Shame your family! Bare your breasts with pride!
Look up at the sky in a crowded marketplace and shout,
"Look Mommy! God gave me a present!"
Pull up your shirt and let the world know
That you aren’t following the rules anymore.
Shame your family! Cut off all your hair!
Negotiate the razor next to your scalp and pull.
"Look Mommy! I look like a skinhead"
Wander outside and let the world know
That you aren’t following the rules anymore.
Shame your family! Roll in the grass!
Forget that you’re old and pretend you’re a child.
"Look Mommy! All the people are staring!"
Race towards the swings and let the world know
That you aren’t following the rules anymore.
Shame your family! Giggle in church!
Laugh at the sermons that the old men are saying
"Look Mommy! People are shaking and muttering!"
Joke at the travesties and let the world know
That you aren’t following the rules anymore.
Shame your family! Resist obeying the regulations!
Ignore the traditions that would steal your life
"Look Mommy! Am I still wonderful the way I am?"
Spit at those who would hold you down and roar
That you aren’t following the rules anymore.
Author notes
For Contest: I'm a ballerina.
Topic: Teenagers
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
This is my manifesto. This is everything about society that should be true, especially when growing up in rich, suburban America.
Too often, teenagers are expected to hide all of their joy, all of their excitement about the simple, wonderful things in life because "it's not proper" or "you're too old for that."
Well, fuck that shit! The person who tells someone else that "they're too old" for something has a withered, empty soul. There is absolutely no joyful, independant activity that a person of any age cannot do!
When someone else would tell me, when I was a teenager, to not play on the swings, or not race around with waterguns, or to not laugh as loudly or wear bright colors or read those books, they were in actuality telling me one simple thing:
CONFORM.
"Don't be yourself! Society doesn't want you roll in grass, or get a weird hairstyle, or approach religion with anything other than a dour, sedated feel."
No thank you. No sir. No way. And, in my most favorite crude expression, fuck that shit.
This is the only life you have. Why should you spend it trying to be somebody else? Or do the things that they tell you to do, when you'd much rather do something else that is harmless and an expression of joy?
So shame your family. Be the person you are. And never, ever aspire to be unnoticed, afraid to live as an individual worthy of sticking out in the crowd.
This is my manifesto.
In a list
A contest entry
- Poems Please ENTER ALL! by Taylor Renee.
450 points, ended July 30, 2007, 19 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next story in this contest, remove from contest - ANYTHING YOU WANT!!!!!!!!!!! by Infectious Insanity.
100 points, ended November 20, 2007, 41 entries
• next story in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 14 of 14
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thats really cool and well thought out.
its original and to the point.
well done and good luck
*sheep* -
Interesting. Why do you have to shame your family to be the person you are? You chose to be born into your family for a reason and have lessons to learn from them. This not the only life we have so why not look closer to the life lessons to be learned about individuality and belonging to group?
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WOW
This is really, really good. A little rebellious but good!
Great Job! I love the imagination in this poem.
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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Interesting. Sounds a bit angry at society. Like a petulant child. Although I do agree that by conforming we give up part of ourselves, I would not go to extremes. Simply live life as who I am and not who they want me to be. Very nicely written with a wonderful message. Well Done.
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Nice... Interesting... Has good meaning and ring to it...
Breaking the rules is just such a fun thing to do suddenly... oh wait, it's always fun! Weeeee!
Good Job! -
Great message, you could really feel the emotion burst out in this piece. Very liberating.
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Cool
Great message here! It's so true...we should never allow others to dictate WHO WE REALLY ARE. We should all strive to be our authentic selves every second of the day, no matter what anyone else thinks. Screw society's oppressive opinions! lol.
Oh...and regarding the pic... OUCH! It makes my eyes hurt just lookin at it, cuz it looks kinda painful...having something stuck to her very 'dry', 'irritated' looking eyeball! lol.
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I LOVE It!
WONDERFUL! could only be better if "mommy" was switched with "mother" to sound a little more rebellious. Absolutely wonderful. And I mean that.
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very well done very true excellent job! I hpe you d well in the contest and have the best of luck! oh yeah and I loved the title it fits wonderfully!!!
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Well done. This is very nice and soooooo true. You make a wonderful point. Great job!
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Wow. this was great. Before I get to my rant, I have to say
You are the first to actually read my contest! Thank you! Guess what THAT, (and the fact this was great) means?
You're the first finalist!
Haha onto the rant.
I loved this. This was so true and you are really right- people saying we're 'too old' to do things is keeping teens from doing what we enjoy and being US. Hell yeah! Rebel!!! Rebel!!!
This was really great. As I said in the contest, the explaination gives you the shot at winning. Here, you had a great explaination AND a great poem. Awesome.
Terrrific job, good luck in my contest and thanks so much for entering!!!
oxox
Tay
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I love you. You are wise, young Megan.
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This is so.... true. I agree with you, and there's so much passion here. You're a great writer, and you have a strong opinion. That's always good. Great Job!
C.E.
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And greatly acclaimed it shall be!
Fuck all the uptight pricks trying to give society a rule book and uniform!
I'm not too old for anything.
I jump in puddles
I still like colouring books
I watch cartoons
Even though today's T.V. can't even compare to mine! Haha...
I love this! Here's some clappy guys
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