Any Way
from Juliette Low Ceremony '08, (c) Rebecca Glon
I wrote this to combine all different levels of our Ship, starting with alumni and stretching back to the 'green' freshman. I hope it touches on at least one feeling you had at any of these stages.
I wrote this to combine all different levels of our Ship, starting with alumni and stretching back to the 'green' freshman. I hope it touches on at least one feeling you had at any of these stages.
Sitting at a stoplight yesterday,
A breeze blew in my window. I was just thinking ‘bout laundry and work When I got that summer smell in my nose.The freezing lake and sweltering sun, A camp full of tears that fateful night. Were we so young we didn’t know We wasted too much time on drama and fights? But I go anyway To those days when the world was ours. Even though I can’t stay, I could talk for hours and hours About the times we’d laugh or yell, Or cringe when Ms. G heard us say ‘hell,’ ‘Cause now that we’re fighting Terror’s War, Our slices of peace mean so much more, So we don’t mind going back. The real world’s waiting out there for me I just have to pack up my things, I’m ready to go out on my own, And prepared for what tomorrow brings. One last bag, one last drawer, one last shirt, My denim sewn with places I’ve been I pause with that faded blue jean in my hands And feel like it’s my last Sunday again. But I’ll go anyway, Though I know each step will be a mile, ‘Cause I just can’t stay And I may not be back for a long while It’ll take that long to see the world And grow up but stay at heart a girl We’ll chase our dreams and find new friends And when we find that our path ends, You bet we’ll be coming back. What a day that’s almost gone! Now all that’s left is the dance. But as we stand here on the steps I know the girls are taking a chance. Our seniors were so strong and smart, The shoes they left are too big to fill. What will I do when they all turn to me? I’ll probably screw up, I know I will, |
But I’ll go anyway—
Who else will they follow if not me? And I hope they say “That’s the kind of girl that I want to be.” I’ve watched all year, I swear I have To find out what they’ve got that I lack, The only thing to do is our best To be as half as good as all the rest, To not regret coming back.This ship was about making friends But these two-a-days are testing that. Drill’s over time, the costumes aren’t done, And everybody feels like…crud. Like the older girls kept telling us, All our problems worked out somehow And my little sister just told me I’m cool, So I have to stop here and think, “…wow.” So I go anyway. I don’t know what’s up ahead, But I like it that way, I’ll be proud to wear the white and red. I may complain and act like a brat But I still want a picture of each group nap. I’m starting to see what ‘sisters’ means, So crazy and wild—after all, we’re teens, Who somehow keep coming back. I bought so many shirts today, That I’ll wear maybe once a month, I suck—stink!—at these cards games And can’t spell purser or yeoman. They keep trying to split me up From my best friend since I’ve been alive And now I’m five hours away from home Wondering where our skipper learned to drive. But I go anyway Because all these girls seem to have fun. I’m just crazy that way To find out about these places they’ve gone, Or why some girl who’s ten years older than me Cares if the splicer does two tucks or three. Someday I won’t have to wonder why They stand in this circle, hold candles, and cry. That’s why I’ll keep coming back. |
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Updated October 27th, 2015
Updated October 27th, 2015