Seventeen

Can I stay forever seventeen--
Live forever in my hopes and dreams?
Mature enough to heed my mind,
Yet fool enough to love so blind.

Forever at this age I’ll live,
Embracing all that life can give,
Enduring all the pain, for soon
The sun will rise and sing her tune.

Can I stay forever seventeen--
Live my life so strong and free?
To understand the pain of death
And value every taken breath.

And so I’ll stay forever seventeen,
Oh, every day a broken dream.
Emotions stark upon the mien.
Forever, yes, I’m seventeen.