Lila Coen, age 14
Wisconsin
I wrote this piece for my friend. I wasn’t really in love with him or anything, but I used how I felt about him and other people I’ve had crushes on before to write this.
Not Ready
I’m not ready to erase
The pencil marks you drew on my paper
Right before the teacher yelled at you
And took us out of the perfect world where
For just one second
It was only the two of us
I’m not ready to let go
Of the purple pen you let me borrow
And I told you I lost
That I use to write poetry
I’m not ready to delete
your number from my phone
Because I’m not ready to say
goodbye