The People That Know Best

[linlin528]

The People That Know Best

The doctors said I took the nutrients

The nurses said there was little hope

My brain and body will conquer this earth

An undergrown brain was doomed

And life's brutal hits will just fly on past

A couple months tops was all I had

The survivor — that was me

The lost cause — that was me

My mom said I started to walk so soon

My dad said I couldn't speak a word

My legs just wanted to run, not crawl

It happened years after my sister

My arms threw anything they could grab

The bathroom contained a similar story

The athlete — that was me

The disappointment — that was me

My eighth-grade teacher said I knew too much

My first-grade teacher said I could draw so well

I should be in calculus, not algebra

My lines and curves were special

I needed to prepare early for medical school

She got me a sketchbook for my sixth birthday

The future doctor — that was me

The artist — that was me

My principal said I had great potential

My chemistry teacher said I needed to focus

My grades clearly reflected that much

Put my books and coloring pencils away

Just stay on track for six more months

My doodles distracted me from covalent bonds

The valedictorian — that was me

The slacker — that was me

My friends said I've become the system

My test scores said I was intellectually stupid

All creativity and passion was gone

Falling below the nationwide average

No longer did I think for myself

Never going to get into college

The robot — that was me

The failure — that was me

My obituary says I was a smart girl

My sales say I just broke the record

A loving sister, a talented star

Millions of dollars for something I made

And yet I became a product of society

If only my sister was here to see this

The gravestone — that is me

The success— that is me

[MBW]

This was great in how the lines contrasted each other and as the reader you try to put together each opinion and find truth. And then you question what is true? What makes up someone's identity? Maybe who you are has nothing to do with the qualities other people apply to you. Maybe you don't even know yourself any better. I don't know either way but I like how this makes you think.

[dwells]

The back and forth here was striking as you reviewed your life through they eyes, and hopes, and dreams of loved ones - and melded them with your own worries and aptitudes. Sometimes we don't always measure up, and when that happens it can be time to reach for a different standard of measurement. I know that I'm "metric" at heart - cheers LL! - Dan

[Chelle]

first of all i want to say this is amazing. I love the idea. The format was great too. I didn't know where you were going at first but then at the end I had an ahha moment and then I was like OMG. So sad.