My 40th Year [Poem]

 

In my youth, 

    I used to always think, 

    that by the time I was 20, 

    I would be free: 

    Free to be who I want to be.

In my youth, 

    I used to always think, 

    that by the time I was 30, 

    I'd be kicking goals: 

    Doing work helping other souls.

In my youth, 

    I used to always think, 

    that by the time I was 40, 

    I would have found my flow: 

    Living life nice and slow.

As I enter my 40th year, 

    I thank younger me: 

    You had been both right and wrong.

    You proved to be resilient and strong.

    Your vision holds me in this next chapter:

    Living life nice and slow, 

    pursuing new goals,

    finally free, 

    to be who I want to be.

[The image of Naomi is from a school photo taken in their youth. Naomi was on Darumbal country at the time the photo was taken. Naomi is sharing this poem on the eve of her 40th birthday. The poem is an excerpt from their forthcoming book You Will Find Your Way. Subscribe to Naomi's newsletter list here for free access to a larger sample of poems from the book.]