What About the Weeds? | Teen Ink

What About the Weeds?

July 27, 2010
By singergurl12 GOLD, Jacksonville, Florida
singergurl12 GOLD, Jacksonville, Florida
15 articles 0 photos 190 comments

Favorite Quote:
Fairy tales are true, not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten.


A flower is beautiful, gently swaying in the breeze, her flowers polished, not one leaf out of place. She gracefully sways in tune to the song of summer, the wind, the rain, the sun. A weed grows strong and straight and tall, ignoring the breeze and bowing to no one, nothing. She pays the price for her pride, scorned and shunned by all but the other weeds. The weeds act as one, standing together out of necessity, if not out of friendship and love. You see, they need each other. They need the solidity of a union, the strength in numbers. Each one has the words and the knowledge to do whatever they want, from conducting a beautiful orchestra to ending world hunger. With the right instructor they can do anything, and although not boastful, they know it. The flowers have the same potential, although they don’t apply themselves. Some simply don’t care, others are afraid to fail, and still others distract themselves from what matters. I say this because I do not refer to the flowers who have stalks and blooms and roots, I refer to those above the ground, the ones in beautiful dresses with perfect hair and laughter. These flowers, like the true flowers, are beloved for their beauty. They are given the best food, the kindest words, and the softest touch. They grow slender and perfect. The human weeds, though, they get nothing nearly as good. They are put down, shunned from “Proper Society”. They might not have perfect hair, they probably don’t give a pile of spit about makeup, and it shows that they don’t keep up with the extreme latest trends. The weeds, however, are also the ones who help up a stranger who has fallen, who read every book for the fun of it, and who don’t need 20 “friends” to complete their life. Maybe she hasn’t been asked out on a date in a year, and maybe he can’t dance like Michael Jackson. Then again, maybe he held a door for someone else without getting a thank you in response, and was perfectly fine with it. Did you see it when she gushed about the gift her little sister got her, a clay lump painted like a rock? A flower frowns down upon anything less perfect than itself, and then tosses anything more perfect, afraid its grace dims its own. Who, then, has grace? The flower, who is perfect in every physical way, but whose heart shines not at all? Or perhaps the weed, who, while coarse and unrefined on the outside, on the inside is a pure diamond, glittering and waiting for a chance to show itself. Who, then, shows elegance? The one who can dance and dance for hours without falling or missing a step, or the one who dances horribly, yet does it with a pure and true smile on her face? The opinion is up to the reader, but keep in mind that Beautiful is a state of mind, soul and heart, not of hair, clothes, and makeup.


The author's comments:
They say discrimination and segregation is gone, but is it really?

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This article has 47 comments.


bugatti said...
on Oct. 23 2014 at 2:25 pm
cool like it

on Oct. 13 2010 at 12:46 pm
singergurl12 GOLD, Jacksonville, Florida
15 articles 0 photos 190 comments

Favorite Quote:
Fairy tales are true, not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten.

no. not really.

Aronmighty said...
on Oct. 13 2010 at 12:44 pm
wut a "surprise" if you no wut eye mean

on Oct. 13 2010 at 12:41 pm
singergurl12 GOLD, Jacksonville, Florida
15 articles 0 photos 190 comments

Favorite Quote:
Fairy tales are true, not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten.

thanks, alec!

on Oct. 13 2010 at 12:40 pm
singergurl12 GOLD, Jacksonville, Florida
15 articles 0 photos 190 comments

Favorite Quote:
Fairy tales are true, not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten.

hmm... sounds a little... umm... whats the word... low-self-esteem-ish. I agree, Nate, you ARE a flower on the outside. but everyone is good on the inside- some just deeper than others. FIND YOUR INNER WEED, NATHAN!!!

alec said...
on Oct. 13 2010 at 12:39 pm
Fantastic work

Aronmighty said...
on Oct. 13 2010 at 12:37 pm
this is WONDERFUL very um wuts the word..... oh awesome. Im defanitly a flower since im awesome on the outside and not as awesome on the inside. VERY GOOD JOB!!!!!!!!!

on Sep. 24 2010 at 4:27 pm
singergurl12 GOLD, Jacksonville, Florida
15 articles 0 photos 190 comments

Favorite Quote:
Fairy tales are true, not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten.

i know exactly what you mean- good luck ;)

on Sep. 24 2010 at 4:26 pm
singergurl12 GOLD, Jacksonville, Florida
15 articles 0 photos 190 comments

Favorite Quote:
Fairy tales are true, not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten.

haha i feel ridiculously nosy/preachy but your welcome- and i know exactly what you mean. good luck ;)

on Sep. 22 2010 at 10:17 pm
sweetly_broken GOLD, Garner, North Carolina
15 articles 0 photos 157 comments

Favorite Quote:
We never know how big we are until we are asked to rise.

yeah, it's not so much that he's a flower but he comes from the garden if you catch my drift. i don't really know his parents much, but i just know that he's amazing. thanks for your support:)

on Sep. 22 2010 at 1:54 pm
singergurl12 GOLD, Jacksonville, Florida
15 articles 0 photos 190 comments

Favorite Quote:
Fairy tales are true, not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten.

its my favorite as well ;)

thanks- im so glad you can relate. Now, I'm not going to tell you "oh my gawsh you have got to ask him out theres nothing to lose"  because there is always something to lose.. just keep in mind- since when is chivalry so dead that the guys expect the girls to ask them out? if he is to stubborn to realise your obviously amazing qualities or to afraid to be seen with a weed, his problem. just flirt on and make him want to. trust me- we weeds have to stand together. (as for obviously amazing qualities, just from your comment i can tell your humble, caring, kind, and forgiving. so don't you EVER forget it.) good luck ;)

and thanks for your support- i really appreciate it.


on Sep. 22 2010 at 1:42 pm
sweetly_broken GOLD, Garner, North Carolina
15 articles 0 photos 157 comments

Favorite Quote:
We never know how big we are until we are asked to rise.

This is absolutely amazing. I love it. The language, diction, voice, and point of view are all fantastic. I'm in eighth grade too and i've been living the single life since i was nine and had one of those glorious five minute relationships. now, i really like this one guy but i always wonder if i'm good enough for him. Thanks so much for writing this. it's incredible.

on Sep. 20 2010 at 9:01 am
singergurl12 GOLD, Jacksonville, Florida
15 articles 0 photos 190 comments

Favorite Quote:
Fairy tales are true, not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten.

lol thanks bunches! and sure- love to!

on Sep. 19 2010 at 4:23 pm
KelleySchorn SILVER, Fort Worth, Texas
8 articles 0 photos 78 comments

Favorite Quote:
Whatever you are be a good one-some president i dont remember which
procrastinaters unite!...tomorrow!!-matt
i'm F-U-L-LLLLL i think i can spellllll-allie =]

wow ur in 8th grade!? dang! well good luck w ur x-husband ;P nd keep writing! :))

*also check out my stuff?? thatd be great :)


on Sep. 17 2010 at 9:48 am
singergurl12 GOLD, Jacksonville, Florida
15 articles 0 photos 190 comments

Favorite Quote:
Fairy tales are true, not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten.

okay, idk who u r but i LOVE YOU. (in a non creepishly way- i am a chick.) Im an 8th grader- boyfriend-less since pre-k when i married my best friend. I know exactly how you feel- just don't give up that you WILL find prince charming someday. thanks- you've really inspired me ;) (Ps- i dont recommend the marrying thing in pre-k, he's in my class this year and its REALLY akward.)

on Sep. 16 2010 at 9:26 pm
KelleySchorn SILVER, Fort Worth, Texas
8 articles 0 photos 78 comments

Favorite Quote:
Whatever you are be a good one-some president i dont remember which
procrastinaters unite!...tomorrow!!-matt
i'm F-U-L-LLLLL i think i can spellllll-allie =]

wow this really speaks to me! im a freshmen, ive never had a boyfriend, and some of my friends have had seven, sometimes i feel like no guy will ever like me but this gives me hope!

on Aug. 25 2010 at 7:08 pm
singergurl12 GOLD, Jacksonville, Florida
15 articles 0 photos 190 comments

Favorite Quote:
Fairy tales are true, not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten.

thanks so much! i really appreciate it- i'll try to comment some of yours to!

on Aug. 25 2010 at 7:06 pm
singergurl12 GOLD, Jacksonville, Florida
15 articles 0 photos 190 comments

Favorite Quote:
Fairy tales are true, not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten.

yeah sure ill try to do that! thanks!

Diana101 GOLD said...
on Aug. 25 2010 at 5:40 pm
Diana101 GOLD, Grove City, Ohio
13 articles 0 photos 107 comments

Favorite Quote:
"God's delays are not God's denials"

This story was beautiful!!! I loved it so much. I can't wait until you post another story!!!

*Could you maybe read and comment on my story?


riley... GOLD said...
on Aug. 16 2010 at 7:01 pm
riley... GOLD, Yakima, Washington
13 articles 0 photos 73 comments

Favorite Quote:
"i became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity." edgar allen poe.

excellent writing. great use of adjectives really gave the piece a good feel. great job :)... could you check out some of my poetry perhaps?