'Suddenly It's December & You're Not 17 Anymore' TikTok Trend: Poem Meaning Explained

A December-themed sound is trending on TikTok again.

“Suddenly it’s December” is a trend that’s happened over the past few years, as people get reflective, nostalgic and wistful about the winter season and years gone by – and the audio is actually pulled from a combination of elements.

Keep reading to find out more…

The voiceover is reading aloud an original poem titled “I Hope You Get Home Safe,” and it’s by Margaux Paul.

“Suddenly, it’s December, and you’re not 17 anymore / And you haven’t been 17 for a very long time, but sometimes you need to remind yourself,” the poem reads.

The background music is from “Agape” by Nicholas Britell, from the If Beale Street Could Talk original motion picture score.

“This poem is very near and dear to my heart, and I’m so honored that it resonates with people. Once again it’s almost December, and I feel the years slipping through my fingers,” she wrote back in December of 2023.

The poet noted that the meaning of the entire poem got lost in the shuffle after it went viral a few years ago.

“Thought I’d get in on this audio as the original writer of this quote in an attempt to get people to find me through it ???? I’ve accepted that this poem has gotten away from me, but any little bit helps ❤️,” she wrote last year.

This year, she wrote: “Happy ‘Suddenly it’s December’ season to all who celebrate ???? This poem truly changed my life and every year I love seeing the posts and videos people create using my work.”

See the full poem…

See some viral examples…