Uptight | Teen Ink

Uptight

April 7, 2014
By Anonymous

Fresh start They say.
No one cares They say.
Keep your head low and smile pretty They say.
Just try it once They say.
Curl your hair They say.
Curl your morals to what everyone else believes.
I won't do this I say.
I'm staying young I say
Do what you want I say.
But the only thing I'm tripping on is my own two feet.
You're gay They say.
You're childish They say.
Rules don't apply to us They say.
But it's the best four years of your life.

You're not on the bottom anymore They say.
We see you're not like us They say.
Just relax and come smoke some weed They say.
Why you so uptight They say.
Live a life They say.
Let go of yourself a take a dive in our world.
What's so bad I say.
Why you mad I say.
Let me get through the day I say.
But the harassing makes me want to give in.
I see you're confused They say.
Let us take care of you They say.
See. We told you it'd be great They say.
But it's the best four years of your life.

You're not a bad person They say.
You're just like the rest of us They say.
Having fun, being free They say.
Look you're so cool They say.
We wish we were like you They say.
We're bored with this, wanna try something new?
I'm in too deep I say.
This isn't me I say.
What did you do to me I say.
But the problem is I'm starting to like who I've become.
Screw the law They say.
Screw your grades They say.
This is high school They say.
But it's the best four years of your life.

Fresh start I say.
No one cares I say.
Keep your head low and smile pretty I say.
Just try it once I say.
Curl your hair I say.
Curl your morals to what everyone else believes.
I won't do this They say.
I'm staying young They say
Do what you want They say.
But the only thing They're tripping on is their own two feet.
You're gay I say
You're childish I say.
Rules don't apply to us I say.
But it's the best four years of your life.


The author's comments:
This piece shows the never-ending cycle of peer pressure and how you get pulled into it in "the best four years of your life."

Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 11 comments.


NOIZTHIMS GOLD said...
on May. 19 2015 at 10:52 pm
NOIZTHIMS GOLD, South Jordan, Utah
15 articles 0 photos 51 comments

Favorite Quote:
"If your eyes could speak, what... what would they say?" -Max (from "The Book Thief")

You know, I feel like you have this very honest way of getting to the point but not forgetting how you got there or the fact that you were the one to do so. The rest of us get muddled up in making our point sound good,, but forget who we are and where we fit in in the process. Thank you.

on Mar. 3 2015 at 1:16 am
kikixkupkake GOLD, San Marcos, California
17 articles 0 photos 92 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The things that walk out when we open our minds." -Dylan McCoy

OH! Also, I like the way you chose to capitalize "They". It makes the opposing negative group, or what I assume is the popular, pressuring crowd, seem like a more significant authority.

on Mar. 3 2015 at 1:14 am
kikixkupkake GOLD, San Marcos, California
17 articles 0 photos 92 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The things that walk out when we open our minds." -Dylan McCoy

I really enjoy the rhythm of this poem. It all flows together so smoothly and is very easy to read. Even the grammar errors seem to become insignificant when combined with the silky transitions in this piece. The only issue I have with this poem is the lack of commas... Yet even then, I can overlook it due to the smooth read.

SCSKATE SILVER said...
on Feb. 24 2015 at 5:38 pm
SCSKATE SILVER, Austin, Texas
9 articles 5 photos 23 comments
I like how you went from they say to I say

on Feb. 22 2015 at 9:57 pm
Allen. PLATINUM, Palo Alto, California
32 articles 9 photos 525 comments

Favorite Quote:
[i]No matter how much people try to put you down or make you think other things about yourself, the only person you can trust about who you really are is you[/i] -Crusher-P

I like it, but I wish there were more breaks. For example, the capitalization of 'They say' is slightly awkward in the same line as the rest. I would recommend using quotes, making line breaks, or not capitalizing. But this really is fine all on its own.

on Feb. 21 2015 at 7:15 pm
poetic_ink GOLD, Naperville, Illinois
12 articles 0 photos 8 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.
-Robert Frost

Wow. Absolutely beautiful portrayal of teenage society, and I love your use of repetition and switched "They" to "I".

on Feb. 21 2015 at 4:07 pm
MysticMusic ELITE, Waterloo, Other
116 articles 0 photos 118 comments

Favorite Quote:
“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” -Mae West
"It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things." - Leonardo Da Vinci

I can really relate to this in that people should really live out their life they way they want to, and others shouldn't tell them what to do. Great poem, and great ideas.

on Feb. 17 2015 at 1:03 pm
WOWriting SILVER, Broadstairs, Other
5 articles 0 photos 266 comments
Very relatable. Friends always telling me to straighten my hair or wear it differently or do this or that. Like the twist at the end, made me think. Keep writing!

on Jul. 8 2014 at 7:23 pm
Sparrow01 SILVER, Appalachin, New York
8 articles 0 photos 30 comments
I love this, I can relate so much it's scary 

on May. 25 2014 at 10:32 am
Olivia-Atlet ELITE, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
325 articles 10 photos 1165 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To these the past hath its phantoms,
More real than solid earth;
And to these death does not mean decay,
But only another birth"
- Isabella Banks

Wow, this is brilliant. Great job on  the whole 'becoming someone else'. I really liked this.

on May. 24 2014 at 3:39 pm
Luv4Ever SILVER, Jacksonville, Florida
7 articles 0 photos 199 comments

Favorite Quote:
A miracle is just another name for hard work
-Minho in "To The Beautiful You"

i luv wat it conveys but u lost me at the beginning, your repitition is just too much and it loses the reader's attention