I am an old oak tree whose roots of the past keep me standing tall and strong through storms. 

I am the clarinet of a beginning musician; it takes time for someone to grasp how all my keys work together to make a beautiful melody.

I am a turtle who's slowly but surely traveling further from the things of my yesterday that held me back.

I am tarnished gold; I was left with a shine that isn't as bright as it used to be.

I am the changing of the weather in Missouri on a day-to-day basis, bipolar; some days are better than others.

I am made up of your last goodbye, a part of me left along with you.