Annotations for Speaker: Tyepha Walden

Hello, my name is Tyepha Walden.

Hello, my name is Tyepha Walden.

And today I'm going to read a poem called My First Love.

And today I'm going to read a poem called My First Love.

It's a personal letter I had written to God this summer.

It's a personal letter I had written to God this summer.

It pains me to know all the troubles I've been through.

It pains me to know all the troubles I've been through.

I've turned to alcohol, to sex, and even to death, before I turned to you, my first love.

I've turned to alcohol, to sex, and even to death, before I turned to you, my first love.

Sometimes I feel ashamed having gone against your wishes, time after time after time.

Sometimes I feel ashamed having gone against your wishes, time after time after time.

All the things you've given me, all the gifts you've given me, excuse me, I had taken for granted.

All the things you've given me, all the gifts you've given me, excuse me, I had taken for granted.

But still, you continue to care for me, my first love.

But still, you continue to care for me, my first love.

Once I had a terrible experience.

Once I had a terrible experience.

I feared you did not love me anymore.

I feared you did not love me anymore.

For months and months I pondered the thought of living without you.

For months and months I pondered the thought of living without you.

Oh, how terrible was that thought.

Oh, how terrible was that thought.

For you are the very essence of my life.

For you are the very essence of my life.

You are the reason I can wake up smiling.

You are the reason I can wake up smiling.

My ever so near, ever so dear, first love.

My ever so near, ever so dear, first love.

You've always cared for me when I didn't care for myself.

You've always cared for me when I didn't care for myself.

You've always looked out for me when I didn't look out for myself.

You've always looked out for me when I didn't look out for myself.

And you've always loved me when I didn't love myself.

And you've always loved me when I didn't love myself.

My first and only love.

My first and only love.

I'm sorry for all the pain I caused you.

I'm sorry for all the pain I caused you.

I have no excuse.

I have no excuse.

But on this day, this very moment, I have this promise for you.

But on this day, this very moment, I have this promise for you.

That I will never leave, nor stop loving you.

That I will never leave, nor stop loving you.

My thoughts shall be our thoughts.

My thoughts shall be our thoughts.

My words shall be our words.

My words shall be our words.

And my actions shall be our actions.

And my actions shall be our actions.

For you were, and are, and always will be.

For you were, and are, and always will be.

My parent, my friend, my guidance, my strength, and my redeemer.

My parent, my friend, my guidance, my strength, and my redeemer.

But above all, my first love.

But above all, my first love.