In somber tones I weave this tale,

A lament for dreams that sadly fail.

A sister's hopes, dashed and torn,

As her dreams of college are left forlorn.

Once vibrant and full of youthful zest,

She embarked on a quest with dreams abreast,

Dreams of prestigious halls, where knowledge thrives,

But fate had other plans, as destiny connives.

Applications submitted, hopes held high,

Her heart yearned for wings, ready to fly.

Yet each response, a cruel rejection,

Her dreams shattered, an emotional infection.

Oh, how I watched her spirit wane,

As rejections poured down like relentless rain.

Her eyes, once bright with hopeful gleam,

Now dulled, eclipsed by a shattered dream.

Visions of her laughter, her joyous cheer,

Now replaced by sorrow, a quiet veneer.

She hides her pain behind a fragile smile,

While inside, her spirit falters, inch by mile.

Friends celebrate acceptances, their gleeful cheer,

But my sister's dreams are held hostage by fear.

She sees their excitement, their eager embrace,

While she's left adrift in a desolate space.

Her heart, heavy with disappointment's weight,

She grapples with an uncertain fate.

For what lies beyond this bitter scene,

Is a college experience far from what could have been.

Departure day looms, but her heart's not stirred,

No eagerness to leave, no soaring bird.

Apathy veils the milestone that awaits,

As she contemplates her uncertain college fates.

No teary goodbyes, no bittersweet embrace,

Just a hollow departure, devoid of grace.

Her dreams lie dormant, suppressed by sorrow,

As she embarks on a path she can't help but borrow.

Yet, amidst this melancholic haze,

I hold her hand, her spirit to raise.

For dreams deferred need not be lost,

A new path awaits, whatever the cost.

Though her dream colleges may lie behind,

A world of possibilities she'll soon find.

In resilience's embrace, she'll rise anew,

Discovering her worth, her dreams come true.

So let us mourn these shattered dreams,

But in mourning, find hope, as the sunbeams.

For life's journey is a winding road,

And sometimes, detours help us grow.

Dear sister, though this elegy is sad,

Remember, your worth is never to be had

In the labels of colleges or their golden gates,

But in the strength you possess, and the love that awaits.