I Was Seventeen Poem by Randy McClave

Why did I do this or say that
Why did I walk on you like a floor mat,
And those awful words that I did say
How I wish that I could take them all away.
I'm sorry for the awful things that I had done
But, of course to me they were all in fun,
I am so sorry for the tears that you had cried
And for your pain, so deep inside.
Why did I cause you to scream and shout
And why did I always put your thoughts in doubt
I still remember the mean things that I would do
And still you would always say, "I Love You".
Why did I believe that I was always right
Why did I always want to argue with you and fight,
And when you gave me those rules to follow
Why were those rules so hard to swallow.
Now I am a grown adult
I now understand the pain and the insult,
So, why was I then so contrary and mean
I guess it was all because I was seventeen.

Randy L. McClave