Two Generations

TEENAGER

adults say they understand because
they were once a teenager
but its different 
for me being a teenager is 
wearing a mask
being isolated
finding a new normal
but what is a new normal
normal isn’t twelve-year-old me
exploring the city which gives me so much freedom
to do 
whatever i want
but i don't do that alone
my friends carry me and make me happy
new normal is 
driving in california 
windows down 
the radio playing drake or doja cat 
the air smells fresh and flowery 
new normal is
camp
sitting in my bunk painting my friends nails
doing karaoke to taylor swift songs 
running down the hill in the pouring rain
the birds chirp and the air is sweet
new normal is
exploring my hobbies
drawing
sewing 
taking photos of everything and nothing
new normal is 
having sleepovers every week
talking for forever 
and waking up to waffles and orange juice
or maybe dunkin donuts
new normal is also scary
i don't think high school is for me
i feel trapped
but when i think of the future 
i become stressed
there’s so much pressure 
i don’t know where i want to go to college
i don't know what i want to do for the rest of my life
new normal is
learning that i might not know everything
but what i have now is what ill look back on and say
i'm glad i have these things in my life

30-Something

As I get older, I try to hold onto all of the things I don't want to forget
Like the way the spring blooms in NYC fall like a light dusting of snow on the sidewalk
The promise of a new nephew, a wedding, and a new job
Or the coziness of my railroad apartment when it’s early and the morning light is soft
I wonder what I’ll think when I look back on my 30s before I was married or had a mortgage
I don’t want to forget the familiar sounds of the neighborhood outside my window, the old men greeting each other and commenting on the weather
The freedom of public transit and how just a swipe can get you to so many places
The way my dog cuddles next to me after a long day
The neighbor across the hall who I say hello to each morning
Please let me remember how hard things have been but also the way that I’ve grown and adjusted
The seemingly neverending news, a war, a climate warming
The collective worry of the last two years, the pot banging, the sense of community
Why would I want to remember all the bad with the good?
Because I hope I’ll look back and realize how far this difficult time pushed me
I hope