Childhood
An Era to Remember
written by: Raaghavi Kalluri
Lacy dress
Gold chain with polished pearls around my neck
Heels too high like those magical dreams that could graze the stars
But never fall safely among the clouds
The price to be paid for wishing for more, not less
Birthdays
Miracles
Countless years
Endless hope
Birthdays became the only happy part of the years
As I grow older, but hardly wiser
Wide-eyed smiles
My mother’s glassy eyes could cut stone hearts
Because today her seven-year-old princess
Becomes a dancing queen, finally but only 17
But the 7-year-old inside me prays to leave the party for a while
Lone cake
Layers of icing
This is it.
Every candle that danced in bright oblivion and burst with the pledge of shattered promises
Every ribbon that unfurled from two cents banners like my layers of innocence unraveling piece by piece
Every off-key chorus sung by well-wishers whose faces blurred
Every hour, every breath, every moment of waiting to grow up
Only for my star-kissed soul to ache for coming back down to earth
Golden memories
Surrender to the summer tides
And evaporate in the scorching July sun
With the cruel passage of time
But not this day
This day was not destined to fly away
For today I turn 17
17 candles atop overpriced layers of sugar and flour glitter like sapphires
And my 7-year-old self stands there in an oversized dress, grown-up jewelry, and wobbly shoes
Wishing for the laughter to never stop, the dreams to never die, and the love to never expire in these last 365 days
A sacred wish tied with a red string to my heart
On the final blow of an era
- Childhood: An Era To Remember - August 29, 2026
