Every now and then photographs of my life that I have never seen before surface.
This one is of my highschool year 10 formal.
Elena, Richard, me, someone else I can’t remember her name, Leif, Caleb are in this row.
I remember my friend Justin said, let’s go as friends, and his Dad drove us both there. He brought me a corsage.
I always thought of him like a brother.
Justin was his name. At first it seems he is not in this picture.
Actually he is behind me.
Justin passed away at nineteen. He drowned at a place called the Gorge.
I heard this news on the radio.
The dress I am wearing looks white, but it is actually lemon.
The heel on my shoes broke dancing that night.
They were happy times, and also challenging times.
Justin was there for me at many special times.
He treated me like a sister.
I have always wanted to write some stories based on highschool experiences, both challenging, and great.
But most of all to honour those friends who were like my brothers and sisters, and didn’t ever judge me for the colour of my skin.
Photographs like this inspire poems.
I will think about a poem for this photo !
June
Ripple Poetry 