Elizabeth Acevedo

cantfindit

ELIZABETH ACEVEDO is a New York Times bestselling author of The Poet X, With the Fire on High, and Clap When You Land. Her critically-acclaimed debut novel, The Poet X, won the 2018 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. She is also the recipient of the Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Fiction, the CILIP Carnegie Medal, and the Boston Globe-Hornbook Award. Additionally, she was honored with the 2019 Pure Belpré Author Award for celebrating, affirming, and portraying Latinx culture and experience. Her books include, Beastgirl & Other Origin Myths (YesYes 2016), The Poet X (HarperCollins, 2018), & With The Fire On High (HarperCollins, 2019). She holds a BA in Performing Arts from The George Washington University and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Maryland. Acevedo has been a fellow of Cave Canem, Cantomundo, and a participant in the Callaloo Writer’s Workshops. She is a National Poetry Slam Champion, and resides in Washington, DC with her love. Source

When I Am Old

Years from now

when wrinkles

decorate my skin

like henna

 

when my bones rattle

mimicking a bag of coins

when my hair is no longer

full and thick

but these wisps of moon

 

I will shake my head

a wistful smile tugging

at the corner of my lips

 

taking a walk

down the streets of memories

I will wonder at younger me

who though she knew so much,

who knew she was confused,

who needed rules–if only to break them

 

I will wonder at the girl I once was

and think, “If only she knew what I know now,”

and be so thankful that she didn’t.

Published:

2018

Length:

Regular

Literary Movements:

Contemporary

Anthology Years:

2023

Themes:

Childhood & Coming of Age

Literary Devices:

Imagery

visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work

Simile

a comparison between two unlike things using the words “like” or “as”