Coming of Age Poem

When she started kindergarten,
Her gaze rested on a boy
With chocolate hair
and a playful smile
Just to say that she could
Staring at him
And he never knew

The boy with the playful smile
Played with another girl
But she kept gazing
Just to say that she could
Staring at him
And he never knew

The wait was too long
And her eyes grew tired
Of staring at the boy
With chocolate hair
and a playful smile

So she gazed at the boy
Who had stories to tell
A superhero at the age of eight
Her gaze rested on the boy
With the stories
And the hero's features
Just to say that she could
Staring at him
And he never knew

She was whisked away
To a far away land
And lost sight of the boy
With the stories
And the hero's features
So she closed her eyes

But there, in the desert
Was the boy with blue eyes
Who stared at the girl
Wishing she would open her eyes
So she did-
But he never knew

So the boy gazed at her still
But the wait was too long
And his eyes grew tired
Of staring at the girl
Who stared at the boy
And he never knew

The boy with blue eyes
Found another girl
Who stared right back at him
So he would know
And the girl looked away from
The boy with the blue eyes

Then the girl grew up,
And looked around.
Her gaze rested on a boy
With the hazel eyes
And military standards
Just to say that she could
And he never knew

But then she caught sight
Of another pair of eyes-
Large, brown and intent
Staring at the boy
With the hazel eyes
And military standards
So the girl looked away
But she kept glancing back

She plummeted deeper into
The unforgiving desert
Where she was left alone
With no one to look at
For guidance or comfort
But the image in her mind
Of the boy with the hazel eyes
And military standards

An oasis was found
But the girl kept her eyes down
Not daring to look up again
For fear that she'd be whisked away
Where she would be left alone
With no one to look at
For guidance or comfort

But then came the boy
With the brown eyes
And a heart of ruby
Who met her gaze
Without shame
Without excuse
Just to say that he could

And the girl gazed back
At the boy with the brown eyes
And heart of ruby
Staring at him
And she thought that he knew

Her worst fears came to light
As she was whisked away
To a far away land-
Where castles stand
And heroes dwell

Now she can't stare
Because she can't
For the line has been crossed
And the veil has been lifted
Tumbling off her shoulders
And sinking into the ground

Now everyone knows
When you stare at someone
And when you stare at them back
Everyone can, for
Everyone sees
And when everyone sees,
Everyone feels
Just to say that they can.
And that is when you know.



In case you didn't quite get it (I'm not the best poet), the intended storyline is following a girl (of my imagination, I couldn't think of a good name, which is why none is stated in the poem).
This girl is traveling through life, moving on from one boy to the next, saying that she likes them, just because it's something everyone does/expects, and she wants to say that she can as well.
There's a pattern to everything: staring without the boy's knowledge, then backing off for some reason or another.
Eventually, in the last 2 stanzas, she grows up.
Crushes are no longer the thing, and no longer enough in this stage of life.
People are becoming more open and doing more than simply liking a guy/girl, and so she can't just say she likes guys anymore.
She's growing up, or coming of age, which was the theme inspiration I had for this poem (thanks to my Honors English class).
I hope it wasn't too confusing to read, and fairly enjoyable. Thanks for reading!