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Home > All Poetry > The Pen

The Pen This piece has been published in Teen Ink's monthly print magazine.

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By Seamus K., Gilmanton Iron Works, NH
Photo credit: Chyla P., El Dorado, KS
Physical confrontation is not my style.
Verbal abuse ain’t how I roll.
Instead, my weapon of choice is nothing but a pen.
Not for launching dart-like projectiles at my enemies,

but rather to rip them to shreds
on a piece of lined paper.
I’m invincible, they are no match for me
or my ultra slick Bic click-able.

I’m like Judge Judy,
with the way I can call you an idiot
and you can’t say anything back.
Try to get a word in edgewise – oh wait, you can’t.

I’m like Dr. Phil,
with the way I can easily pick out your problems,
but there’s nothing wrong with me! I can’t fix any
but I can surely make you aware of ’em.

I’m like Oprah Winfrey,
how easily I can lie to your face
about how I love your new novel.
The way you used third person narration was brilliant!

I’m like Jerry Springer,
with my cunning attempts to incite a riot.
I’m just an innocent bystander, right, guys? Maybe it will look
more convincing if I break up this altercation with mace.

Any day, any subject, my pen is there.
He’s not biased like everyone else.
I just let it flow, sometimes without even thinking:
like this inanimate object is an extension of – me.

I’m thinking of naming him,
like those creepy old ladies who name their thousand cats
after their ancestors dating back from George Washington.
Fortunately, I don’t have a thousand pens; just

one. Until the inkwell is bled of color, I will never cease.
Our one-way relationship redefines the phrase “pen pal.”
I’ll write until I run out of paper, switch over to hemp if I have to;
Because like the Declaration of Independence,

I am free.
This piece has been published in Teen Ink's monthly print magazine.This piece has also been published in Teen Ink's monthly print magazine.

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This article has 27 comments. Post your own!

Katherine H. said...
Sep. 4 at 5:52 pm:

This is awesome!!!
wouldn't want to be on your bad side.
j/k lol

 
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kissingdawn331 said...
Aug. 28 at 3:22 pm:

wow i feel the exact same way

 
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sarah.c said...
Aug. 22 at 9:05 am:

amazing poem.congratulations on the getting published!

 
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Tatumn said...
Aug. 20 at 11:12 pm:

wow. this one is my favorite. detailed and true:) wonderful.

 
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Angelalala said...
Aug. 18 at 1:51 am:

that was incredible i mean your choice of words was outstanding really great great poem i felt it

 
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XCLover said...
Aug. 14 at 8:49 pm:

Wow. I love this one :)

 
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Eilina S. said...
Aug. 8 at 3:44 pm:

WOWOWOW!

The more I read these, the more I feel about them. I used to hate freestyle poetry, but this has a structure, so I guess it isn't

But it's the most amazing peice I've ever read! You deserve every bit of fame you get or are going to get (I'll place a bet.)

 
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Samantha M. said...
Aug. 3 at 10:13 pm:

This is amazing. I love it, and definitely can relate. Witty and strong, with just enough anger to make it work. Good job!

 
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CherishFaith said...
Aug. 2 at 2:01 am:

wow you are amazing at what you do. i realy relate. I get what your saying :)

 
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Angel_1995 said...
Aug. 1 at 6:30 pm:

i love it....its amazing

 
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Katy W. said...
Jul. 31 at 8:22 pm:

Amazing. That is the one word for it. May I post a link to this in my blog?

 
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S2isme said...
Jul. 30 at 2:36 pm:

very very nice!

 
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Samantha G. said...
Jul. 26 at 9:16 pm:

very cool.

 
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BillyJoeBobKellyGeorge said...
Jul. 25 at 6:34 pm:

a NICE poem. inspires me to write more as well

 
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JacintaT said...
Aug. 15 at 4:32 am:

Woah. I really liked this. The use of similies was great aswell. I liked the way emotions were used; "rather to rip them to shreds on a piece of lined paper". Very very good. (: keep it up .

 
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Wildheart said...
Jul. 23 at 10:51 pm:

I absolutely loved it! it was deep and inciteful with a side of humor. Brilliant, a pen is more powerful than most anything. Having control of your own little world is far more amazing. Awesome, Wow.

 
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His-Bright-Green-Eyes... said...
Jul. 21 at 8:14 pm:

i love this. It's awesome. write more. simply amazing! 5 stars!

 
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jordann_lil_guh said...
Jul. 21 at 4:29 pm:

this is very witty. love your writing style, love it.

 
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Lainee said...
Jul. 21 at 2:02 pm:

Self-confidence and righteous anger ring through, yet you saved room for comedy. True words, true soul, truely good writing. Props man.

 
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Mo said...
Jul. 21 at 2:33 am:

I loved the way "I am free" was separated from the stanza before it; I really felt the feeling of being free.

 
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Kathryn.L said...
Jul. 20 at 3:23 pm:

It's great, strong but with a sense of humor.

 
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Carellyn T. said...
Jul. 18 at 3:31 am:

You rock that pen!! keep up the good work

 
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Grace B. said...
Jul. 18 at 12:58 am:

luv this!!!definitely ur own creation

 
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Melinda L. said...
Jul. 16 at 11:13 pm:

this is really cool. I liked how you said, "I'm like Judge Judy." I liked that stanza best.

 
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liz W. said...
Jul. 11 at 5:34 pm:

Awesome! Nice satire.

 
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LilJ<3 said...
Jul. 7 at 11:42 pm:

This was AMAZING. I love the attitude this poem has. Great job! u deserved to have this published. Once again, great job.

 
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blingblang4eva said...
Jul. 7 at 3:33 pm:

this is amazazing :) this si exactly how i feel about writing poetry. good job

 
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