Poem: "Nobody Told Me"
by Camilla Catignas
Nobody told me that adulthood
would be like walking into a forest alone.
I am in my twenties
and in no way do I feel like I’m grown.
I'm entering the woods
in complete darkness
with nothing
feeling nothing but leaves
and self-doubt beneath my feet.
Who am I? what am I doing here?
I’m so lost, and everything seems so unclear.
Nobody told me that adulthood
would consist of anxiety
and feeling out of place.
I'm in college
but it feels like I’m speeding away
in a fast and furious car chase.
Trying to find a job makes me feel more on edge like I’m sprinting in a track race
tryna to graduate in 4 years
tryna to figure out the overwhelming future
afraid my parents might end up thinking I'm a loser feels like I don’t know what I'm doing
where I’m going
what’s gonna happen
and I forget
and I forget
to breathe.
I forget to take a step back and feel the summer night breeze If I keep walking deeper into the forest,
I see shimmers of yellow light
flickering in the darkness.
Fireflies, flickering on and off, dark and light. Fireflies illuminating
something beautiful and bright
So I keep walking, pushing through
this dark unfamiliar place might be kind of new.
Nobody told me that in adulthood
you are a forest
not only are you growing
but just like Mother Nature, honey
you are GLOWING.
Keep walking
with all your fierce radiance
and own it!
Nobody told me that in adulthood
you might realize that
you are your own light
that you are your own firefly!
There will always be a sliver of light
if you look up above
because how else can something grow
without light and love?
So be proud!!!
Just remember, to breathe in
and breath out.
You rule this forest without a doubt
and don’t worry, you’ll have it all figured out. You are a firefly; soaring, up, up, and away! You are bright and radiant no matter what people say. Okay?
Now tell yourself
right now
that you
can light the way.