Waiting ...

waiting…

to be old enough to go to school
tall enough to ride the roller coaster
pretty enough to have a date

waiting…

waiting …

waiting…

to be mature enough to play adult
save enough to buy a house
stable enough to have a child

waiting …

for the child to grow
for college acceptances and mortgages payments
and weddings and reunions and funerals

waiting …

for awards and acceptances
acclaim and jealousy
for the career-ending gold watch

waiting …

for my hair to thin
my bones to grow brittle
my body to betray me, but still

waiting …

to have my voice heard
to be seen as I am
to be accepted as worth the trouble

waiting …

for permission to be –

waiting …

for permission to love –

waiting …

for permission to accept –

myself.

Waiting …