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Buoyant MAG

April 7, 2012
By LaurenBeard GOLD, Leesburg, Virginia
More by this author
LaurenBeard GOLD, Leesburg, Virginia
16 articles 1 photo 8 comments

Favorite Quote:
“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.”
-Jack London

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I used to be popularity's anchor;
I sank to the ocean floor.
I've been splashed with drama
Drowned by rumors
Drenched with gossip
Tossed around by the tides of trends
Swept away by peer pressure's rip current;
Lost at sea.
I was washed ashore by lost hope.
Then my mind learned to swim.
My reputation flourished with fins.
My personality sprouted gills.
I treaded water through psychological typhoon.
I stood tall against verbal cyclones
I endured emotional monsoons.
I've seen rough and calm waters
Failure and success have ebbed and flowed
And I've been swimming against the current ever since.
But now, in the vast seas of popularity, I am no longer sinking
Nor swimming
I am simply just
Floating.

© Katey C., Malibu, CA

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JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 31 comments.

Deej6595 BRONZE said...
on Nov. 15 2013 at 11:39 pm
Deej6595 BRONZE, Billerica, Massachusetts
3 articles 0 photos 369 comments

Favorite Quote:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

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I like the language you used. You can tell that this was written with emotion. I like the last four lines especially. Those were very powerful and easy to relate to but, nonconformity is not such a bad thing. It's only high school and life will surely get better.
ramfthomas4 PLATINUM said...
on Sep. 1 2013 at 2:32 pm
ramfthomas4 PLATINUM, South Bend, Indiana
26 articles 1 photo 98 comments

Favorite Quote:
“If the present world go astray, the cause is in you, in you it is to be sought.”
― Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy

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dear adinohman, as someone who regularly uses this site to help build my writing experience, i think i speak for everone when i say that constructive criticism is the only sort of criticism we should have here. after your very childish comment i was surprised to find that you yourself are a poet.  it was my impression that one poet could see the time, care, and thought put into a poem.   the author obviously thought out the poem, using very clever language.  they might, perhaps be trying to capture a different aspect of highschool than you usually do.  no one would want to post on this site if they thought their ideas would be attacked. please be civil, as others are civil to you.    
Kamana BRONZE said...
on Aug. 30 2013 at 11:11 pm
Kamana BRONZE, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
4 articles 0 photos 30 comments

Favorite Quote:
Everyone deserves to be loved, even if they can't find it in them to love themselves or anyone else for that matter.

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It was great, very visual with an awesome metaphor.  I could see the drama you were describing being very closely compared to the ocean.  
Potterhead_Is_amazing GOLD said...
on Aug. 26 2013 at 9:31 pm
Potterhead_Is_amazing GOLD, Arvada, Colorado
10 articles 3 photos 38 comments

Favorite Quote:
Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, so long as one remembers to turn on the light.

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I agree. There may be other feelings too, but that doesn't make the authors any less real. Nor does it make the other emotions that you spoke of any less real either.
TheMaskedPoet SILVER said...
on Aug. 26 2013 at 1:12 am
TheMaskedPoet SILVER, Temple, Georgia
9 articles 0 photos 51 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I wish I could be a little less dramatic, like a Kennedy when Camelot went down in Flames." -Miranda Lambert

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I feel like it could flow a little better, but it's an amazing poem!
chris341 GOLD said...
on Aug. 23 2013 at 1:57 am
chris341 GOLD, Springville, Utah
15 articles 0 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
"If you have built castles in the sky, do not despair, that is where they should be. Now build the foundations under them." -Thoreau

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Great metaphor!
LaChouette GOLD said...
on Aug. 13 2013 at 11:57 am
LaChouette GOLD, Mount Vernon, New York
12 articles 0 photos 146 comments

Favorite Quote:
“And then there are the times when the wolves are silent and the moon is howling.”
- George Carlin

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The imagery in this is great! Keep up the good work!
Mario94 GOLD said...
on Aug. 7 2013 at 11:59 am
Mario94 GOLD, Secaucus, New Jersey
12 articles 0 photos 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I Rather draw than paint, But I rather express than nothing at all"- Mario,“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!”
― Sylvester Stallone, Rocky Balboa

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Honestly, I love this piece. It's so symbolic that I actually saw eveything occur in my mind. I also sense relationton the poor soul that has endoured so much in her life.
Philia said...
on Aug. 2 2013 at 2:49 pm
Simple and short but with essence. Nice!
writingriver05 SILVER said...
on Jul. 24 2013 at 5:17 pm
writingriver05 SILVER, Boise, Idaho
8 articles 0 photos 28 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Reach for the moon, even if you miss you'll land amongst the stars."

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All i can say is WOW! this poem is beautiful. Especially since i can relate to what you went through. keep up the good work! 
pensive said...
on Jul. 7 2013 at 6:26 pm
pensive, Fcgbhjk, Maryland
0 articles 0 photos 25 comments
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The author's feelings are just as real as anyone else's. There is no competition to see who has the worst life. If you can't convey your emotions in a relatable way, no one cares how much you've been through.
pensive said...
on Jul. 7 2013 at 6:15 pm
pensive, Fcgbhjk, Maryland
0 articles 0 photos 25 comments
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I LOVE the imagery in this poem, especially the last line! Congrats on getting published in the magazine :)
OurVoices PLATINUM said...
on Jul. 3 2013 at 12:16 am
OurVoices PLATINUM, Merrimac, Massachusetts
31 articles 0 photos 34 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are" - e.e. cummings

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THis is great! i feel like i can relate to you! and congrats on being published in the magazine! thats awsome! :)
AloneandFree SILVER said...
on Jul. 1 2013 at 10:20 am
AloneandFree SILVER, Williamston, South Carolina
5 articles 0 photos 40 comments

Favorite Quote:
Rise above the storm and you will find the sunshine.
-Mario Fernandez

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i like it.. it sounds like you put alot of emotion into it and i can relate, so great job
LaurenBeard GOLD said...
on Feb. 3 2013 at 4:28 pm
LaurenBeard GOLD, Leesburg, Virginia
16 articles 1 photo 8 comments

Favorite Quote:
“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.”
-Jack London

View profile
That's such a great mindset. :) Thank you for your feedbook and your kind words!
LaurenBeard GOLD said...
on Feb. 3 2013 at 4:28 pm
LaurenBeard GOLD, Leesburg, Virginia
16 articles 1 photo 8 comments

Favorite Quote:
“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.”
-Jack London

View profile
Wow. Thank you so much. The simplicity in your comment is incredibly flattering.
LaurenBeard GOLD said...
on Feb. 3 2013 at 4:25 pm
LaurenBeard GOLD, Leesburg, Virginia
16 articles 1 photo 8 comments

Favorite Quote:
“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.”
-Jack London

View profile
Thank you very much! :)
LaurenBeard GOLD said...
on Feb. 3 2013 at 4:25 pm
LaurenBeard GOLD, Leesburg, Virginia
16 articles 1 photo 8 comments

Favorite Quote:
“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.”
-Jack London

View profile
Thank you so much! That really means a lot to me. This poem and the various emotions within describe how I've felt a lot of times, and I'm so glad you can relate. I appreciate your feedback :)
HayleyAlexandra SILVER said...
on Feb. 2 2013 at 9:44 pm
HayleyAlexandra SILVER, Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania
7 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,
Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like there's nobody listening,
And live like it's heaven on earth.”
― William W. Purkey

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Since I've discovered it, I think I've read this poem more times than I could count. It's so beautifully written. Amazing job :)
Positivity_At_Its_Finest DIAMOND said...
on Jan. 26 2013 at 11:34 pm
Positivity_At_Its_Finest DIAMOND, Morrow, Georgia
56 articles 2 photos 148 comments

Favorite Quote:
Life is a stage, get on it and perform your best act.

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one word...BRAAAAVOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!