by Emma Chippendale, 14
Holding on like you do to your favorite childhood stuffed animal that no matter how old you get you will still hold on to.
Holding on like you do to your mom as a clingy child, a tight grip around her leg telling her not to leave, even just to go get the mail.
Holding on like you do to your older sister, not showing but silently seeing her slowly getting older and older, leaving her childhood in the past.
Holding on like you do to your dad’s arm when you’re scared or feel alone in the world, never wanting to let go.
Holding on like you are when holding your little sister in a deep hug, her going through something nobody ever wants to happen.
Holding onto her like she is going to fly away into a scary world.
Holding on as if you can’t let go, and never letting go of your childhood memories, even if you think you’re “too old” or it’s “babyish.”
Soon you’ll wish little ten-year-old you didn’t care what others thought about her, and she just wore the pink dress to school no matter if others thought it was uncool or if they thought she was weird.
Soon you’ll wish you weren’t so quick to delete your childhood pictures on your iPad, a million of the same stuffed toys and dolls.
Soon you wish you weren’t too scared to share your opinion in second grade on what you thought was better, cats or dogs.
Soon you’ll wish you weren’t so quick to get rid of your childhood bedroom, with stuffed animals and tinkle posters lining the walls.
Soon you’ll wish you didn’t let drama and dumb things come between you and your friends.
Soon you’ll wish you didn’t want to grow up, stay the same clingy shy eight-year-old kid that wants to go ride her bike up and down her street, stay close to home, because in the end, growing up isn’t about letting go.
It’s about learning what’s worth holding on to.
Red Bank, New Jersey
This piece won FIRST PLACE in our 2026 Voice & Verse Writing Contest, poetry ages 12-14 category.
Judge’s Note: I love how this poem sends a message to its readers that it’s not bad to hold on and sometimes holding onto things is what’s best for us.
Bridge Ink 