I lose myself to the leaves,
And I am forced to ask myself,
Do I really want to go back?
Do I really want to go back to you
So you can
stretch my face to your liking
mold my personality to your interests
shape myself to fit you?
Do I really want to lose myself again?
Do I really want to return?
I lose myself to the leaves,
I grab at the pine needles,
And claw at the earth.
I leave forever
only to return
when you come calling,
There is dirt beneath my fingernails
and leaves in my hair,
There is nothing to return to anymore.
Amanda Draznin is a 17 year old high school student living in Fairfax, Virginia. Her work has previously been in some student run journals, on Teen Ink, Youth Be Heard, and on her instagram (@the_butterfly_jar). She enjoys playing in the marching band, doing ballet, and of course, reading and writing poetry. Amanda plans on continuing her education and studying poetry for many more years to come.