Give Me A Year

I cannot describe what a smile looks like.

Nor can I recall the sound of a laugh.

Too familiar with straight faces and unending rules.

What I'd love is one year to myself,

then I'll do what you tell me to do.

One year to do the unthinkable.

Break tons of rules so people would see me as original.

I'd laugh, shout, dance, act insane,

anything to be called a wild child.

What was once all in my head,

you'd see all around.

No more tiptoeing around

or head shakes of disapproval.

Just one year to be free.

Can you give that to me?

You can bound me to chains

and make me scrub the floors.

I'll serve you to the end and more.

But first,

give me a year.

Give me a year,

so when I'm yours,

I can look back on that year

and smile inside as I do your work.