paint with me

lets paint a picture of the girl who got her braces off, and the time you got yours on

of you holding your new little brother for the first time
                         
of the sky changing color for the last time

and of the chocolate dipped lake you swam in, your eight grade summer

lets paint a picture of the world ten years ago
                   
of the red concrete bricks that made up your childhood education

of the black stone bricks that stole your heart

and of the time you threw your innocence out the window

lets paint a picture of the time you finally figured out how to ride your bike

of the time you got your license suspended
                       
and of the time your mom realized she couldn't hold onto you forever

lets paint a picture of the trees, and the grass, and the moon, but mostly lets paint a picture of the stars

 of the time the night swallowed us up

of the mysterious mood in the dark canyon

and of the little lights that led us there

lets paint a picture of your report card, and the other one you got from school

of the first B that told you failed

of the mini test marked "life" in the gradebook

and of the NC's you're still trying to make up from last term

lets paint a picture of your triumphs and your struggles

of the smile you flashed when you took first place in state
             
of the disappointing baseball try out
     
and of the coaches who were only there for the money

lets paint a picture of life in itself and take up the entire canvas.

they say life is too short

but i couldn't fit it on one page if i tried.

in the grand scheme of things,

watercolor will dry up,

brushes will lose their touch,

we'll all lose ours.

so keep loving, keep breathing, keep painting your picture

because in the end,

nobody's there to judge.

if you don't leave your mark

if you don't tell your story,

who else will?

keep painting.