And Many More

Not one more year
Just one more day
One more day of being
Inconsistently
Consistent

Not one more smile
Just one more mask
One more mask that hides
Truthful
Deceit

How have I changed
If at all stayed the same
From a calendar ago
To now
Since then?

What is the use
Of this vicious cycle
That leaves in its wake
Wisdom and
Wrinkles?

Not one more year
Just three hundred sixty-five
Days of memory
Filled
Blocked

Not one more smile
Just one more tear
Hidden and brushed away
Moving
On

How will I change
If not stay the same?
I pray it won't be so
Only
Grow

What use will I be
In the cycle of other's lives
Will I gain from them
Wisdom
Wrinkles?

Not one more year
Just one more day
One more day
Filled with
Praise

Written on the eve of another year; September 13, 2006
This is what I did on the last night I was 18.