Knots Poem by Laney Owen

i will not be
some ten minute
cigarette break-
you can not
extinguish me
after lighting
me up

you think you're young
but you aren't.
you're nearly
sixteen-
you have a job
a car
drugs
a girlfriend
can
you
just
slow
down?

i am prone to
influence
and you wish
to escape,
so i'll try
and escape
with you
even when i am
comfortable

i think i'm young
and i am.
i just turned
fifteen-
i applied for a job
i'm getting my license
i haven't touched drugs
i have you
can
i
just
speed
up?

i see her sometimes
and she thinks she
is young
but she isn't-
she's sixteen.
like you.
she gets it all.
she knows you.
but you know what
i know?
me neither.
so you have to
stay
and
teach me
because i can
knot
untie myself.