Just As You Are

Just be you

A nerd, a geek

a weirdo, a freak - 

it only means

that you're unique

Conforming to whims

of name-calling jerks

crushes your charm,

your singular quirks

Be who you are,

not what they demand

by being yourself

you are taking a stand

Reviews

[Samuel Dickens]

I think you've written my anthem, and very cleverly so, with great rhythm and rhyme. Many old folks like me who experienced the hippie era will recall the cries of "Be yourself" and "Do your own thing".

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Samuel! I am told that I am a "Hippie at heart"! Spent much of my youth being the weirdo, and now I realize that it's best to be oneself, no matter what labels are pinned on.

[SyberRose]

Nicely done Rita...I'm still trying to get these ratings down to a science ha.

[SyberRose]

Yes Rita children need to realize this and parents need to pay attention to the pressure their children are under these days...especially by the bullys out there...thanks for posting...I can tell you are a good teacher...SyberRose

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you! Much appreciated - and it is my daily hope that I am good (at least) as a teacher - since I remember my teachers, good or bad, so well.

[SyberRose]

I remember every teacher I ever had...and my best friend can't remember any and we went to the same schools...so I don't know if I'm the abnormal one or she if she is.

[@zeewhykay]

I love this, this is really my style, lots of rhymes, clear messages, short and sweet.
Very well done, I will be looking for your work ! I dig you !!
Cheers !

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you so much, Yann!

[Will]

I love the message, and the rhyming is great. The rhythm in the first two stanzas is great, but the last one kind of messes up the flow. If you clean it up, this good poem would be great

[Rita L. Sev]

Thanks, Will. The second stanza was already cleaned up - pondering the third. Check back - I'll get it right!

[Mr Blank]

I just came across this poem, so feel free to shoot don my opinion BUT I feel the whole point of the 3rd stanza is to be different to the other 2. After 'Be who you are', you add a beat to the next lines, almost symbolic of personal growth, and this is a move away from the 'conformity' you describe in the 2nd stanza.

Also this adds emphasis to the first beat in the rest of the 3rd stanza. The monosyllabic words 'Not','Just',You' are really driven home to reflect the simplicity of just being yourself. Also I just noticed as i wrote that, that those words make the point that you are addressing a universal feeling. 'Not', 'Just' and 'You' literally emphasis it is not just you who has to deal with this. An important message. That is why i think the last stanza is carefully metrically different, and why I think it's great! I've read your other poetry it's also very good!

[Mr Blank]

Woops! Too late then!

[Rita L. Sev]

Lol! Not at all - I tend toward a "clean" flow and rhythm, a bit OCD about it, actually. I have never really been happy with this one (written a few years ago). I know I overuse certain words in my poems ('just" is one of them). Trying to get better with age, so keep the reviews and honesty coming!

[Mr Blank]

Well it does come off "cleaner" and you still get the message across in this re-written version anyway, so i still like it. :)

[Frieda P]

Truly said like a teacher, good lesson in this one...if only everyone would comply!

[Rita L. Sev]

Thanks, Frieda.

[Chris]

If YOU read this aloud - three times, you will readily find EVERY stumbling block within the rhythm and know what you want to do. 'nuff said.

[Rita L. Sev]

You're right, d****t. Thank you! Never been really satisfied with the flow of this one - still tweaking (always tweaking...) Thanks for your review!

[Chris]

this WAS actually a review...the others were comments. It's a "cute" effort your students will "get"... especially with the rhythm being solid.

We are taught not to verbalize what we read... but poetry IS oral and aural. There comes a time reading 2000+ words a minute doesn't really make all that much of a difference except to your own understanding of the voice of the writer.

[Rita L. Sev]

Absolutely - I do read my poems aloud to my students, and encourage them to read theirs aloud, too. A poem is a very different thing when it is spoken, and needs to be fully alive.

[Chris]

I look forward to listening where your thoughts go...

[Ruthie Igunbor]

I'm taking a stand =)
very nice and straight to the point

[Rita L. Sev]

Keep taking the stand! Thanks for the review.

[Hand Held Writer]

Lol! From one word nerd to another... nice and concise, quite precise, and very good advice.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you for the poetic review!

[EmilyEmingsworth]

This is great! Short, sweet and to the point.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thanks!