The Misguided Kid

A Poem by TheMidwesternJew

"I am 16"

He said

"and already a pessimist"

"i haven't had a child"

He said

"i haven't been under the sheets with another"

He said

"i haven't been married for half my life"

He said

"and i haven't spent a night in drunken illusion"

He said

Looking at the stars and howling
He shouts

"I am 16"

"and not even half-licked

I look at the people
mostly men"
and questions the motives
behind the skin
behind the bone
behind the soul
waiting for the next rape
waiting for the next murder
waiting for the next suicide
waiting for the next war

"I am 16"

He said
"the prime of life
yet I take no advantage
those who sit in crack houses
those who live life in loveless marriages
those with their red corvettes at thirty
THOSE
would kill for my position
would kill me"
"Kill me already!"

He shouts
"I scream at them
as they watch their first child being born
as they buy their first house
as they have their first fight
as they watch their first child's graduation"

"I am 16"

He muttered to me
"and already a old and bitter man
waiting to enjoy life
waiting to find love
waiting to live the ignorance of so many
waiting to look at my first-born child
waiting to just be happy"

"I am 16"

He says
"and waiting for the words"