Dear Sandi, as a teenage dreamer

the first man you love is not a keeper

 

the art school path was just passé

instead a four year college may

win a better job today

 

You need not look like models fair

a thousand calorie diets beware

you’re imperfect, but never fear

weight is not the problem, dear

 

How you look it matters not

back then you’ll see what you now ought

that diets don’t work, no matter what

just three meals a day

and overeat, do NOT.

 

Learn from errors, love carefully

be the kindest you can be

linger not in past or future

wasted time is all a blur.

 

Just live for today, and may

you always pray and stay

reminded always of this tome

so when someday wrongs go then

just start anew, begin again. 

 

-Sandra Johnson, 6/22/19