And I watched.
And as I watched, you took my hand.
You walked me down the street
And you told me. You said,
Look, over there.
Do you know what that means?
And I’d listen to you,
Then I did.
And I watched.
And as I watched you would backflip
And you’d bounce and you’d spring
And you told me. You said,
Look, over here.
Do you know how to do this?
And you’d teach me just how,
Then I did.
And I watched.
And as I watched you would walk
Out the door, half past midnight
And you’d leave me. You said,
Go back to sleep.
Can you keep a secret?
And you’d tell me you loved him
Then I did.
And I watched.
And as I watched, you made mistakes
When I’d catch you you’d look at me,
And you told me. You said
Don’t tell mom.
I’d say, do I ever?
And you’d sigh with relief.
Like you did.
And I watched.
And as I watched, you left home.
You got married and all moved away.
And you told me. You said,
We’ll be happy.
Will you miss me?
And I told you I would.
Then I did.
And I watched.
And as I watched, your life changed.
No more trampolines or campouts.
And you forgot me. You said,
People grow up.
Don’t you think so?
And I think back so far,
And I did.
And I watched.
And as I watched things turned hard
You hit so many speed bumps.
And you told me. You said,
Don’t do what I did.
What did I do wrong?
And I counted them up
And I did.
And I watched.
And as I watched, you came home.
After too much, too long
And you told me. You said
All of the things I’d been missing.
Do you know why?
Because I was the listener, secret-keeper,
And I did.
And I watched.
And as I watched I grew older
But I didn’t feel like I changed.
And you told me. You said,
You’re being unreasonable.
Can’t you see that you’re wrong?
So I decided to make my own way.
Then I did.
And I watched.
And as I watched myself grow
I understood why I had always felt lonely.
Because you told me. You said,
Life must be lived this way.
But see how I’m surviving anyway?
I have never regretted a thing
That I did.
Because I watched.
And when I watched, I watched you.
And as you filled your life with sorrows,
I decided I wouldn’t be like you.
I wouldn’t do what you told me when you said
I should follow examples.
Do you know what I found instead?
I was happier to be myself.
Then I was.
Because I watched.
