Slow Down Child | POEM

I wrote this poem a few weeks ago and I recently came across it. It’s one of those poems written in the moment and put aside. But reading it again, I was struck by how similar it is to another poem I wrote a  while ago which was borne out of a period of realization.

Rather than provide an intro to this poem, I hope everyone who reads it, gets the interpretation meant for them. The poem speaks to me in different ways every time I read it.

 

Slow down child,

Slow down,

The sun won’t burn forever

It’ll give way to the moon,

And the moon won’t stay forever,

Morning will come.

I could say nothing lasts forever

But you’ve heard that a thousand times

And instead of offering solace,

It grates like chalk on a board,

But like sandpaper on a rough surface,

Know that those moments are preparing you to shine.

 

Slow down child,

Slow down,

As horrible as you feel,

As scared, worried, anxious and impatient,

You’ll get through it,

I know you will

I could tell you nothing lasts forever

But you’ve heard that too many times

Your strength has been tested

These times can’t break you,

So slow down,

Take a deep breath and just slow down, child.

 

 

©Oreoluwa Matemilola 2018 All Rights Reserved

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