I'm a Teen

Sun, 07/13/2014 - 16:22 -- LailaK

Location

Dear parent,

I'm a teen.

Just so you know,

My room ain't that clean.

All I do is sit and tweet.

On Facebook, I'm keen

Liberal. Single. Sometimes mean.

I'm a teen.

My hormones scream.

Sad when I'm high on Dopamine.

Happy when I'm low on Acetycholine.

They cause me to over-eat.

And not have that much of sleep.

How you say I'm a "lazy-ass beast?"

I'm a teen.

I dress a little weird.

I wear no bikinis, only polo and jeans.

I don't dress to impress; I dress to be me.

I'm a teen.

I'm so friendly and sweet.

I walk with headphones and a beat.

Tying to fit in and find a seat.

Though everyone seems to have some heat.

I keep my cools; I am serene.

I'm a teen.

I have low self-esteem.

My friends are addicted to smoking weed.

While the others are alcohol-freaks

No! I can't fit in; I can't be me!

And you think I'm terrible and deserve no treat?

I'm a teen.

Religiously, I'm in between.

Yes, there's a God; He created me.

But what's my mission? How can I beam?

I'm a teen.

In no clubs I've been.

I don't date; I'm unseen.

I'm outgoing, but I wear sunscreen.

To hide my pains, to hide my fears

Not gonna live Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream"

But let me tell you my dear,

Everything changed this year,

Simply, because I turned eighteen.

Comments

jwiener

I love the video that you included with your poem! The images you presented the reader with are all relatable, regardless of the reader's age. You include a very neat rhyme scheme, which helps the poem to flow from beginning to end. I really like how you write about the many stereotypes teens face, how many of those stereotypes contradict one another, and the types of conversations and miscommunications that take place between parents and their teens who are simply trying to figure out who they are as individuals. Repeating "I'm a teen" really helped to emphasize the last line of the poem, which contradicts the rest of the poem and almost acts as a surprise ending. You did a great job of supplying commentary about the journey into adulthood, and how most individuals become more confident with themselves as they grow older. My favorite lines are "My hormones scream / Sad when I'm high on Dopamine / Happy when I'm low on Acetycholine / They cause me to over-eat / And not have that much sleep" because this is the section of the poem where you bring in the most juxtaposition, and describe the opposite ways in which teens may present themselves. Have you ever written a terza rima poem? It's a type of poem with more complicated rhymes, and I think you'd write a great one since you have such awesome rhyming skills! Check out how to write one and more in the "Resources" section of the site.

LailaK

My words cannot describe how grateful I am that you enjoyed the poem and the video! I really appreciate that you took the time to give me feedback! I just read about terza rima poems and their rhyme schemes and wow, I have to admit that I would love to write one! I love delicate rhyme schemes like that! Thank you again! 

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