I was grand and mysterious.
In the quiet forest I stood, tall and proud,
And when I fall, there was none to hear.

But here I am today, in your care and supervision.
I have no choice but to trust you will put me to the best of use.
So please, hear my call and abide to these few rules.

Begin by nourishing me, bathe me in color
and elaborate my Distinct personality.
Make me who I am tomorrow

Then fill me with knowledge
Complete your math, English, science, and history
Upon these new walls.

As I crumble, I mature.
As you grow, your pencil shall shorten.
Tell me your new crush, doodle and scribble their name, cover me with their personality.

Cry over me, soak me with your tears, but not too much or I'll drown.
Spill your hormonal outbursts, tell me all your secrets.
Tell me jokes and laugh at our troubles.

Insert your wedding pictures.
Tell me, how beautiful he was.
Describe to me, how beautiful you felt.

Cry to me, about how you feel you aren't good enough.
Tell me, how he made you feel.
Explain to me, how you will never stop loving him.

Lecture me on forgiveness.
Tell me there are ups and downs, let me know everything will be all right.
Laugh, and be happy with me, draw smiley faces and loopy hearts within the binding.

Write mindlessly to me while she breaths quietly next door.
Tell me your sorry when you abruptly leave to shush and feed her.
Struggle, to tell me everything with a baby to your breast.

Sigh to me, as your baby grows,
As she starts school, as she goes up and down,
as you fell that you aren't good enough for her.

Cry to me, that she's leaving.
Laugh, that your mad when she's pursuing what you intended.
Smile, at the memories, at the details, she will never remember.

Tell me your sorry, when your arthritis prevents you from our daily talks.
Tape my binding, patch me up.
Flip through our memories as if they were old picture albums.

Fold me, into an origami crane, so that I too will have prominent wrinkles.
Fly me, into the fire.
So that we may,
Die together.

And you will name me, Journal.