The Following is a piece of struggle. First-hand, I have done this, I have seen this, and I have experienced this. Interesting, to say the least, to experience every angle of ones own work. But you'll see what I mean when you read it. It speaks for itself.
While I'm speaking from a teens perspective, it can easily be agreed that many adults fail to outgrow this segment of child-hood. The BIG vs. the small. The CONFIDENT vs the insecure. It's not that the small and insecure can't overcome social obstacles - not at all! We've all been there! But there comes a point when even adults need to step back and get their noses out of the air and just be a friend to someone who isn't very loveable. Obviously it doesn't speak to every single person in every situation, but in some strange way it applies. My point is not to point fingers and poor rain-clouds of guilt on hapless people. The purpose of this piece is as harmless as a cup of coffee. It is to wake people up to what very likely is going on around them.
Life has been very good to you,
Yes, you, who thinks life is so bad.
Sure, you’ve had your hard knocks,
But you’ve always had a friend,
And whether you like them or not,
You have family.
So how come,
You and your friends,
Crowd in your little circles,
And talk about how bad, your life is,
Or what secret shoes you will buy,
When there is one,
Who stands on the fringe,
In the corner,
Alone.
You’re always laughing.
And if it’s not laughter,
Then it’s dramatic flares of tears,
Over something you just don’t understand.
And still,
You exclude,
The one who’s tears are silent,
And the one who’s laughter is lent to sitcoms instead of people.
You complain that you’re so bored.
You stand with your friends,
That have made you so popular.
And talk about how you’ve done
Everything
In the world.
But you haven’t reached out to that one.
It pains you to talk to her.
You see her as something to make you feel guilty,
And you think that you are friend enough,
(a nice person)
To just say “hi” in the halls,
When you pass by her.
Here you are.
You’re growing up.
You’re pursuing your dreams,
Talking about college,
Imagining Mr. Right and how kind,
And good with kids he will be.
And yet, you are still a child,
And you are abandoning another child,
Who is no worse in God’s eyes than you,
So that she can grow up with fleeting hallway friends,
And hallway confidence,
And hallway dreams.
All of them fleeting.
You scream, “Give me some space!”
You and your friends all agree,
That parents, and the dumb strict teacher,
And the snotty Pastor’s daughter, and the expectations,
Weigh you down,
And don’t let you expand.
But, look. Right behind you.
There she stands in the corner.
Trapped.
Unsure of where to go,
Unsure of where to turn to.
And you think she should know better.
You think she should be
More socially normal,
Like you.
You think she should magically grow confidence over night,
And become tough,
And get used to being ignored.
You think she’s fine.
Let me ask you something.
Would you be?
Wait a while, and then,
Turn around one day,
When you are done laughing,
And talking about boys,
And all that is most important right now,
And you will not see her.
That guilty feeling you get around her,
Will no longer consume you,
And you can go on…
Live your life.
You can have that perfect life,
And someday watch your own children cry,
As they watch each Disney outcast,
Find their Prince Charming,
And watch your kids dream,
And start to grow.
But I want you to sit,
And discover that your own child,
has no friends.
That your own child is in a corner,
Somewhere,
With everyone laughing,
While he is all alone.
You want to scream that he’s normal?
That he’s fine?
Your own child will not believe you.
He thinks more of those kids,
At school,
Standing in a circle,
Who are cooler than him.
I want you to think back,
To that outcast,
That girl in the corner.
Who was always trying
To get out of everyone’s way.
And I want you to look me in the eyes,
And tell me,
That you’re fine,
Your children are fine,
Little Disney heroes are fine,
That girl you will never see again… Is fine.
Look me in the eyes.
Tell me it’s fine to be an outcast.
Yes, you, who thinks life is so bad.
Sure, you’ve had your hard knocks,
But you’ve always had a friend,
And whether you like them or not,
You have family.
So how come,
You and your friends,
Crowd in your little circles,
And talk about how bad, your life is,
Or what secret shoes you will buy,
When there is one,
Who stands on the fringe,
In the corner,
Alone.
You’re always laughing.
And if it’s not laughter,
Then it’s dramatic flares of tears,
Over something you just don’t understand.
And still,
You exclude,
The one who’s tears are silent,
And the one who’s laughter is lent to sitcoms instead of people.
You complain that you’re so bored.
You stand with your friends,
That have made you so popular.
And talk about how you’ve done
Everything
In the world.
But you haven’t reached out to that one.
It pains you to talk to her.
You see her as something to make you feel guilty,
And you think that you are friend enough,
(a nice person)
To just say “hi” in the halls,
When you pass by her.
Here you are.
You’re growing up.
You’re pursuing your dreams,
Talking about college,
Imagining Mr. Right and how kind,
And good with kids he will be.
And yet, you are still a child,
And you are abandoning another child,
Who is no worse in God’s eyes than you,
So that she can grow up with fleeting hallway friends,
And hallway confidence,
And hallway dreams.
All of them fleeting.
You scream, “Give me some space!”
You and your friends all agree,
That parents, and the dumb strict teacher,
And the snotty Pastor’s daughter, and the expectations,
Weigh you down,
And don’t let you expand.
But, look. Right behind you.
There she stands in the corner.
Trapped.
Unsure of where to go,
Unsure of where to turn to.
And you think she should know better.
You think she should be
More socially normal,
Like you.
You think she should magically grow confidence over night,
And become tough,
And get used to being ignored.
You think she’s fine.
Let me ask you something.
Would you be?
Wait a while, and then,
Turn around one day,
When you are done laughing,
And talking about boys,
And all that is most important right now,
And you will not see her.
That guilty feeling you get around her,
Will no longer consume you,
And you can go on…
Live your life.
You can have that perfect life,
And someday watch your own children cry,
As they watch each Disney outcast,
Find their Prince Charming,
And watch your kids dream,
And start to grow.
But I want you to sit,
And discover that your own child,
has no friends.
That your own child is in a corner,
Somewhere,
With everyone laughing,
While he is all alone.
You want to scream that he’s normal?
That he’s fine?
Your own child will not believe you.
He thinks more of those kids,
At school,
Standing in a circle,
Who are cooler than him.
I want you to think back,
To that outcast,
That girl in the corner.
Who was always trying
To get out of everyone’s way.
And I want you to look me in the eyes,
And tell me,
That you’re fine,
Your children are fine,
Little Disney heroes are fine,
That girl you will never see again… Is fine.
Look me in the eyes.
Tell me it’s fine to be an outcast.
Anyways, a little dramatic, I admit. But it really does make me mad when I see people who make a point to snub unlovely, unattractive, unimpressive people just because they're not 'more socially normal'. They smile a smile that doesn't reach their eyes, and step around the obstacles. And, honestly, it makes me feel a little sick. So, really, this piece is not my work. It is merely a byproduct of social nausea.
No comments:
Post a Comment