Elle Vampa

afraid of giving up my youth
if it means turning that part of
my life into solitary memories
digging my nails deeper and
clinging on to what was so i
won’t have to be someone else

no longer ignoring my youthful scars
i ought to stop carving fresh ones

so I’m learning

slowly stopping to scratch
the skin of my inner child
attempts at keeping her close
lead to solemn imprisonment
instead now i hold her dear
and scared as we are we
walk along hand in hand

growing up is conquering myself
not a fight, it is a ceasefire
one scared step per time
be afraid she whispers softly
but let’s do it anyway

together