With fresh blooming peonies, I stood at my neighbor’s back door.
Waiting “patiently” like a dog anticipating a walk
The sparkling clean pool seemed to gaze back at me.
The radiant sun danced on the water, hoping I’d come and visit.
My neighbor appeared with a bunch of fun new toys,
Floaties, water guns, and a huge bowl of watermelon,
The scent of new plastic filled the air.
I jumped in with excitement.
Back then my only concern was how far I could swim
Now, I worry about staying afloat.
Five fantastic summers later, the pool is covered
The blinds are closed, and fresh fruit no longer summons me to the table.
I no longer hear “Do you want a Nutella sandwich?” from the edge of the patio.
The flowers in the garden crawl as nature claims the house.
Beloved treasured belongings now sit dusty in an overfilled box.
His tales of war have faintly faded from my mind.
A flag of achievement flutters high on the light post along the street.
“In Honor of a Brave Veteran”
All he was to them was a soldier, but to me he was spark,
Encouraging kindness, positivity, and gratitude.
Kayla Sharp is a 17-year-old high school student, just starting her senior year at Franklin Towne Charter high school. She has loved writing since she was in elementary school, but throughout the past year she has been engaging more often with her passion for writing. She recently attended the Drexel writing conference and is currently in a creative writing class at her school. A majority of Kayla’s writing is based on her experiences in foster care and other events that have happened throughout her life.