My friend asked me,

The other day,

“What’s been on your mind?”

And at the time I couldn’t answer,

I didn’t have an answer,

But as I thought about it

I realised that I’ve been thinking

About how lucky I am.

I’ve been growing,

Becoming an adult,

Learning what fabrics feel good,

What colours work,

How long I want my hair and

How I write essays, how I write

Anything, really.

My texts are full of friends

Sending me art,

Sharing what they ate,

Telling me they love me,

Telling me they’re grateful,

Telling me they’re excited.

One offers to cut my hair

And her boyfriend texts me a joke.

One tells me she has a present

For me, and another thanks me

For sharing a playlist.

I’ve been thinking about what life is

What the point really is,

And I’ve come to the conclusion

That it is this: experience.

Taste your latte and feel lonely.

Revel in joy and text your mom.

Scratch that cat behind the ears

And feel frustrated at that essay.

It doesn’t matter, not really.

So when you ask me

What’s been on my mind,

Or what the meaning of life is,

I’m going to tell you

“I will love you as the pesto loves the fettuccine”

And I am going to laugh.

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