{Just a thing for English}

 

Through life,

As our experiences richen,

As our innocence fleets,

As the days turn into months that stretch into years.

 

We sit in our rockers gazing outside upon the blue sky in reminiscion,

Caressing the book in our lap,

The book we hold so near and dear,

The book of badges we accumulate through the centuries,

A book bound by our sweet victories and bitter defeats.

 

I, too, possess an album of these badges,

The badge of Christianity,

The badge of introverts,

The badge of book worms,

The badge of He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not,

The badge of over emotional teenage girls,

The badge of over-eaters,

The badge of under-eaters,

The badge Algebranians,

The badge of over-achievers,

The badge of under-achievers,

The badge of split personalities,

The badge of grudgers,

The badge of forgivers,

The badge of oafs,

The badge of intellectuals,

The badge of “Don’t Call Me African American”,

The badge of the brave,

The badge of the wimp,

The badge of exhibitionists,

The badge of the impish,

 

These are the badges I’ve collected,

Through life,

As my experiences richened,

As my innocence fleeted,

As the days turned into months that stretched into years.