I am only beginning

So you berate my depth

I am only young

So you discredit my experiences

I am only small

So you scorn my opinions

I am only naïve

So you rebuke my understanding

I am only innocent

So you vilify my knowledge

You are old

You have depth

You are mature

You have experience

You are big

You are wise

You have tasted the real world

Your knowledge matters

Your opinions are relevant

Your understanding knows no end

Don’t you see?

If you truly are all those things,

You of all people would know,

That dismissing and disregarding someone young is a mark of immaturity in itself

If you are all those things,

Use your unfathomable experience and great understanding to teach me

Explain to me the infinite things I don’t understand

Help me grow in the uncountable ways that I am lacking

But what do I know?

I am only beginning