The river ends, dies
the water goes on. It has no choice.
Change is constant. Endings are inevitable.

In the last year
my grandmother died
my parents divorced
my lover faded from a voice on the phone
to a whisper in my memory
my brightest star burned out
my friends moved away
I grew up.

I am no longer the youngest
the child among adults.
There are more and more younger than me
walking the sidewalk,
browsing the library.
I am no longer the teenager
trying to find a place in the world.

I have found my calling, my destiny
to teach others the power of words,
those who will craft works of art
more beautiful than I can imagine.
I have unearthed my gifts
and polished them, gleaming in the light,
sparkling in my hands.
I have honed my skills,
basked in my obsessions,
developed my hobbies,
and catered to my vices.

I have been molded, dyed multicolor
drenched and scarred by my experiences,
fertilized and ignited by my teachers and role models.

Shackles and chains appeared
while I was evolving,
some forged by those around me,
some self-inflicted.
I now have the power to choose.
Choose to shake some off,
leave them behind.
Choose to remain restrained by some,
let them guide my fate.

I will change in the future
but for now, at this moment
I know who I am.

My path is laid out before me
the twists still in shadows
but I know where I am going.
My faith is my map.
I need not worry where I step
for every stumble has a reason
every stubbed toe and blister is a lesson.
I will never stop learning.

I have new friends
who will illuminate the way
encourage my passions
assist my visions
sustain me in the shadows and twists that lie ahead.

I will be Candle
always flickering
always changing
leading others
that which brings sight

I will be Smoke
always flowing
always rising
sparking inspiration
that which brings dreams

I will become what I was meant to be
backed by that which I hold sacred
My Goddess
My Muse
My Hope