Typical Teen

A Poem by Abigail

A little something for all to read. The old and the young. Social media and technology is taking over, but mutual understanding is necessary.

Typical Teen

Twitter, TikTok, Instagram
You no go see me there
One time, in the spur of the moment
I stayed awake till 2a.m
My friends block their parents on WhatsApp
For fun, I show you my chats
One minute on Academia
You say I'm always on WhatsApp

You keep saying
In our time, years ago
Look, that time has flown
I'm trying my best to be good
If I tell you what I've never told anybody
Wetin you go now do?

I talk to you at the dinner table
My friends don't even look up
What else do you want me to do?
Abeg, enough is enough
You go buy me phone
Turn it to isonu
If e dey vex you, abeg wetin you buy am for?

My friends don close book since 2 months ago
I still want to be productive
When they see me carry Chemistry, them dey use me laugh
I'm the odd one
But gladly I am
I'll remember my home, I won't tread the wrong path

I know parenting isn't easy
But I plead, sometimes
Just try to understand my point of view
I'm 16, in a world filled with decay
I'm giving it my best shot
In your time, it was different
But in my time, it's another story,
Another reality
Live with me, in my reality.