These Words Matter | Teen Ink

These Words Matter

October 10, 2011
By increaseyourpace PLATINUM, Bel Air, Maryland
increaseyourpace PLATINUM, Bel Air, Maryland
21 articles 0 photos 16 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;I myself am made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions.&rdquo;<br /> ― Augusten Burroughs


When I tell people that I want to be a poet,
They smirk,
Or nod,
Or wish me luck,
As though I’ll need it,
As though it is not a legitimate career choice.
I know then – they do not understand.

I am a scientist.
I measure words as they measure sulfuric acid –
Very.
Carefully.

I am a doctor.
Healing psyches with the imagery I prescribe,
As it is just another medicine,
Plus it is inexhaustible and free.

I am a teacher.
I don’t preach rounding to three decimal places,
Or spiel on the importance of extended metaphors.
I contemplate life, and the implications of choosing to live it.

I am a lawyer.
I question the righteousness of human consciousness,
Struggle against truth and ease.
I try to find these truths so that they can win out.

I am an astronomer.
I search for a meaning in the stars,
Scour them for some grander evidence of a god,
Some greater matter amongst the stardust.
I’m unconcerned with the pictures they’re supposed to display.

I am a magician.
With a wave of my pen,
I conjure depravity, agony, ecstasy.
I believe in the power of these words,
Despite the knowledge that they are
Just an illusion.

When I tell people that I want to be a poet,
They shift their weight from foot to foot,
Or purse their lips,
Or roll their eyes.
As I see my next goal coming over the horizon.
I will move them, somehow, prove to them,
These words matter.



Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 6 comments.


on Jun. 24 2012 at 10:34 pm
MumblingMelanie DIAMOND, Jackson, Missouri
79 articles 0 photos 210 comments

Favorite Quote:
Don&#039;t be a victim; be a titan.

You have genuine talent. This is beautiful. And I can tell you already are a poet. :)

Thank you for your lovely words.


LiaBe PLATINUM said...
on Jun. 16 2012 at 10:24 pm
LiaBe PLATINUM, Bellevue, Washington
44 articles 3 photos 18 comments
I can definately relate to this poem. Whenever I tell people I want to be an author they look at me like they'll hope I'll come up with a more reasonable aspiration someday. Well said!

on Jun. 15 2012 at 10:52 am
increaseyourpace PLATINUM, Bel Air, Maryland
21 articles 0 photos 16 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;I myself am made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions.&rdquo;<br /> ― Augusten Burroughs

Aw this absolutely made my day! Thank you so much! (:

on Jun. 15 2012 at 10:51 am
increaseyourpace PLATINUM, Bel Air, Maryland
21 articles 0 photos 16 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;I myself am made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions.&rdquo;<br /> ― Augusten Burroughs

Thank you so much! That's what I love most about this site, getting to come together with other people who *get* it!

on Jun. 14 2012 at 8:09 am
CreativeWriter86 PLATINUM, None, Louisiana
31 articles 1 photo 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
One day I will be who I wanna be, no one will tell ME what to do, it will be MY life that I will live for myself.

I absolutley LOVE this poem! It's amazing what you can do with words. A true masterpiece.

AriShine GOLD said...
on Jun. 6 2012 at 3:52 pm
AriShine GOLD, Norcross, Georgia
13 articles 0 photos 130 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Whatever you are, be a good one.&quot; -Abraham Lincoln

I LOVE this poem. I have a couple friends who also like to write, but I don't think I've met anyone who really gets this. Word have beauty, power, and something else that is, well, beyond words. I can tell that you really know how to use words. Thank you for this great poem!