Identity

Not fitting in with your own and trying to.

 

Identity

 

My speech is not so complex

or vibrant

But still…

Words get lobotomized.

Understood yes…

But I can’t express my self.

So now I feel castrated.

 

In actions

The right thing to do

Is the wrong thing to do.

When rational screams a muted,

muffled

protest.

I pretend not to hear

and do something… tactless.

 

In likes and dislikes

I down play my ‘what I likes’

in favor of ‘what you like’.

I know my taste is not your favorite.

Also not popular with the crowd held at bay.

 

Thoughts that race a mile a minute

Having seizure like ideas

because they come like that.

Still I keep them in the

Shallow end

because that’s what’s expected

from the community pool.

Drown the impossible dreams

with the good ideas

like unwanted kids

so I can have friends.

 

Abortion is the term for it.

 

Same uniform and still

I don’t fit in.

Because

Opposites don’t attract

they just cling to each other.

In short….

 

Why do I have to lie to you…

to be black?

 

No one came to my house and handed me a script

and said…

 

“Hurry up and get to wardrobe!

So you can be fitted

with the style of the day

that lasts for a minute.”

 

No one handed me a script and said…

“Hurry up!”

“Read on the way.

 Here’s the role your gonna play.”

Hmmmm….

Department Store Suspect.

I played that yesterday.

 

Afraid to deviate from your norm

I adjust to the insane.

And pretend to like simple things.

Yet the obvious outcast

Can still be the next trail blazer.

 

Cut up sentences

with new words

illegal in this house.

 

Method of thought stays in the red

Stays negative.

Always frustrated.

I wonder…

If comedians really entertain

…or preach to me how I’m supposed to be.

 

Do doves care to be eagles?

 

Do dolphins dream to be whales?

 

It’s an assumption

(I think…)

something smaller would want to be

something bigger.

My key to happiness seems to be

Just accepting me

and others

as is.

While you get bent out of shape

when someone doesn’t look

or

act like your normal, regular

view of your world..

 

If your truth gets shaken

down to cracked foundations

then…

maybe…

it’s…

not real truth

or

you need to reassess.

 

So…

 

Why do I have to lie to you…

to be me?

 

…I thought we were better than that.

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

Again...just trying to be accepted and fit in.

Reviews

[Jenny Davis]

This is REALLY relatable...it's not always color that is a barrier in terms of acceptance...for instance, I was the blonde who was obviously dumb and had nothing to offer....anyway, this is excellent....it really brings truth to the way society seems to dictate how we SHOULD be...f' that! I think there is more and more room for people who live outside the box ;)

[T]

I definitely can relate to this. It is a matter of accepting ourselves, and not trying to be accepted by others. I wrote something like this. It is called, "Their Unintended Consequences" and "Being "Real". Check them out, you might like them. Good write.

[Emily]

Very nice, very nice. I enjoy this piece, and I would love to hear it spoken. When I was reading it, I actually felt as if someone was speaking it to me. It was a great feeling, and just shows the skill that was put into it.

I love the whole piece, really. It's concise, in its own, odd way. And the message is perfect. Because I'm Caucasian, I don't deal with the race barrier as much as I'm sure African Americans and other minorities do, but I believe everyone has their own barrier they have to deal with. For instance, I'm a guy who likes keeping his hair fairly long. Not ponytail long or anything, but to my shoulders. I also like wearing darker colors. These two things put together, and people automatically think I might be a stoner.

Then again, I finally did find people who accepted me.

It's dumb, and I think you really did well in calling everyone out on judging others. I really liked the piece.

[Kara Emily Krantz]

Love that ending - why do i have to lie to you, to be me? that is fantastic.

i really related to the whole poem. it hit something within me, as I'm sure many people on this site can relate. as writers we can viewed like this all the time.

"Words get lobotomized.Understood yes�But I can't express my self.So now I feel castrated."

damn damn. loved that.
fantastic write :)

[Kat Williams]

Nice "thinking" write

[Gary H]

Quality writing. There's enough ideas here to easily make two or three poems but then this is about identity and would'nt be so if you broke this up. I was thinking as I was reading towards the end that this could quite easily be called 'Tell me 'truth'' as I think this is what the work strives for, a reaction to say what do people relate to and do they relate to you?

[Murphy]

This is very powerful... an emotional eruption, whose lava trickles down through each and every line. Very relative and transparent.

[Brette Medb]

This is definitely by far one of your best works. I loved the flow and every word of it and it's sad how true it is. Great write!

Brette

[Dead Angel]

i used to just go with the flow of things and always got on the band wagon. but now i just go with my flow and the hell with what everyone thinks. i'm 20 years old yet i still wear my tigger sweater to college. :) very opinionated poem and a little rebellious. i like how the passion in your words just seep out of them as you read. very well done, everyone can relate to this poem. :)

[TL Boehm]

I felt every line of this. Although I never thought being a nerd was a good thing in HS...I actually wasn't even nerdy, just 'uncool' and I still am. Shame the things society places out there under the guise of 'conformity' most ropes are just nooses.

[Joseph - Michael]

Yeah, I know what you mean by that. It's almost pretty much like one of those "peer presure" things, right? I used to be a bad boy when I was in high school, but now, I'm still a bad boy sometimes (lol) On the other hand, it's always better to be yourself rather than being someone else that you're not. If they don't like the real you, then they have proven you what kind of "friends" they are, so screw them, you're better than that and your "real friends" are just around...

Anyway, I don't see any "poetry" in this? I see it more like prose poem (in small ways) and mostly of the free style writing, but that's just me. So, no worries, this writing is still all good...