Now is the time I should find myself
It is expected of me, like a dogwood should bloom in May
And a baby should sprout her little square teeth.
I am fourteen.
You must be kind, a parent says,
A tide pulls me towards the beach
You must be cool, Normal says,
Then drags me out to sea
You must be responsible, a teacher says,
And yanks me back once more
You must be rebellious, the Stereotype says,
And tugs me out again
And I must be myself, says everyone, it’s easy as pie, they say.
And I drown in the salty water.

The veins now lie about what the heart wants
And try to pump with blood mysterious as wine, yet clean and shiny like toothpaste.
I am a Crowd-Pleaser
And this is a dangerous game
Because without knowing it
I’ve lost myself in its steely eyes.

But being fourteen
They say now is the time to find yourself, yet
I strive to be what everyone wants of me so that
Everyone likes me
But nobody knows me
Especially not
Me.