The swallows are teaching a master class
on the wind;
knowing well the world keeps spinning
without you, the mind fries
and the body
is left somewhere between corner of innocence
and a brewing storm,
just an idea, a notion keeps running free,
“a world where everyone thwarts your individuality
and where even darkness can’t hide you.”
Well, that’s not acceptable.
Tell me if you see me; am I what you thought,
am I what you imagined me to be?
I do give a fuck and that makes it extra
challenging living
in the world nowadays—I am not sorry if the truth
upsets you, my being shouldn’t need to rely
on your comfort level.
There are times when I long to ascend
an unforeseen ladder, anoint my skin with valor
and be whisked away to better days,
a walk beneath heady boughs of wisteria,
they do beckon to me.
Golden hour and green hills; they are sitting
on the bench
with their cigarettes and ideals, calling for me
to join, do I look like sheep or cattle?
I am too busy reading Vanity Fair,
I’d rather they disappear like the setting sun on the
horizon, their chatter makes the air
I breathe feel heavy, feel suffocating,
why is it that we are constantly pushed to be
someone we are not—
I never thought I would look back on those days
and consider them as simple.
The staining aroma; fluorescent lights and bad
behavior, peer pressure
isn’t something that stops at adolescence,
it only gets worse with time,
be careful whom you give your trust to—
We like to think our thoughts
and intentions are clear enough to be read,
we are funny that way,
it’s proof that those with a soft heart are easily
manipulated— enough, we are stronger,
every page is a new beginning;
we are more valuable than what they can take
from us. Go on, read that again—
the swallows are teaching a master class on the wind.
Photo credits: “Just Because,” by Loui Jover, Pinterest
Posted for Poetics: When it comes to Peer Pressure @dVerse Poets Pub
I detest this notion: a world where everyone thwarts your individuality. I have learned to not judge the book by its cover as everyone is just different. Living here in Canada has made me appreciate the many cultures from different parts of the world.
Love the strong voice specially:
enough, we are stronger,
every page is a new beginning;
we are more valuable than what they can take
from us, bring it on.
Thank you so much, Grace 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
Reading your poem again (I read it on IG earlier), this stands out: “we are more valuable than what they can take / from us, go on, read that again.” I did read that again and again — great line!
Aww gosh! Thank you so much, Jenna 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
“my being shouldn’t need to rely on your comfort level.”
“why is it that we are constantly pushed to be someone we are not.”
Thank you so much, Tzvi 😀 so glad the words spoke to you the way they did 💄❤️
behavior, peer pressure
isn’t something that stops at adolescence,
it only gets worse with time
Very true Sanaa, in simple ways perhaps like ‘keeping with the Jones’
Hank
Thank you so much, Hank 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️
I like the narrator’s voice in this poem. I feel like this would be a really cool piece to hear read out loud
Thank you so much, Jewish Young 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
Wow, Sanaa! You evoke the oppression of peer pressure so perfectly! Brava!
Thank you so much, Frank 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️
Peer pressure can leave scars! Sanaa, love your poem, especially the powerful closing lines. ❤️❤️
Thanks for this prompt, something that everyone has either experienced or seen close at hand.
Thank you so much, Punam 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️
“be careful who you give your trust to”. trust and conformity are definitely a balancing act for we social creatures. how to belong and to what should we belong? peer groups can be for better and for worse, but one way ora not her they always apply pressure to conform. in your poem, you have it write
Thank you so much, Sean 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️