I'm tired of everyone criticizing everything I do.
They do not look at what is true.
They see me as the hardships I face,
And the way they bring me down!
They are blind to my accomplishments.
For all the times I knew,
How much I pushed through the pain,
How much I have gone through.
I will never be accepted, no matter what I do.
If you knew me, you would understand,
That I am not giving up.
That seems like what I should do now.
Because that is just my luck.
You lecture me on how I don't push through things,
But you never know the length I've held out.
You never knew me?
Probably never will.
You assume it's something else.
You chose not to put the time forth,
To know what it's all about.
Take the time to find out,
Before you have missed out.
(Editorial commentary: This poem vividly illustrates one of the beauties of poetry. Poetry can help writers get the pain out. Nobody likes to be misunderstood. And what teenager hasn't felt misunderstood at times? This poem might be called a 'cautionary tale.' The ending is powerful. One day your daughter is a senior. A few months later she is in college. That's where Dana is now. Congratulations, Dana!)
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