we lived among the sunflowers
by Parker Ussery
i. the sunlight danced around us, we let ourselves go, we felt so free. we told each other we would never leave this place, we laughed at the thought of change. the quiet was never a threat to us, we took hold of our fears and conquered what stood in our way. we manifested our hopes, our joys, we sang to sunny skies everlasting. the breeze carried soft rhythms of beautiful beginnings, we smiled as we enjoyed the peace.
ii. but as it always does, the rain came and our sundresses were soaked, the sky was dark and the lightning illuminated your frightened face every few minutes. i held your shaking hand, i tried to tell you that it would be alright, that soon it would pass but you got too uncomfortable and you fled. you fled and i never saw you again.
iii. now as i lie alone in the shadows of the yellow petals i wonder. would you have stayed with me if you knew that rain makes flowers grow?
Parker Ussery is a sophomore in high school in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. She writes poetry with themes such as identity, liberation, and coming of age. Parker has loved to read ever since she won a reading contest in first grade (having read over one hundred books during that school year), and her adoration of literary works has led to her creating works of her own. In addition to writing poetry, Parker delights in sprinting kinda-fast on her local track, learning Spanish, cooking intriguing new recipes, and snuggling with her baby sister.