All Nonfiction
- Bullying
- Books
- Academic
- Author Interviews
- Celebrity interviews
- College Articles
- College Essays
- Educator of the Year
- Heroes
- Interviews
- Memoir
- Personal Experience
- Sports
- Travel & Culture
All Opinions
- Bullying
- Current Events / Politics
- Discrimination
- Drugs / Alcohol / Smoking
- Entertainment / Celebrities
- Environment
- Love / Relationships
- Movies / Music / TV
- Pop Culture / Trends
- School / College
- Social Issues / Civics
- Spirituality / Religion
- Sports / Hobbies
All Hot Topics
- Bullying
- Community Service
- Environment
- Health
- Letters to the Editor
- Pride & Prejudice
- What Matters
- Back
Summer Guide
- Program Links
- Program Reviews
- Back
College Guide
- College Links
- College Reviews
- College Essays
- College Articles
- Back
A Hidden Truth
When the world makes the rules
And they’re confusing as hell
When you don’t understand them
The answer they won’t tell
When you’re down on your knees
Asking an invisible someone for a sign
But the response is draped in darkness
Your road a large incline
When it pours tremendous raindrops
And the woeful sun won’t shine
Stuck behind a cloud at night
The stars refusing to align
When you always sit there stuck
In the traffic jam of life
Cars blazing past in the other lane
While you’re stuck at that red light
When the sweetest things taste bitter
The sugar turned to salt
And now the taste is bitter for them as well
And somehow it’s your fault
When your bed is just so cozy
The covers pulled above your head
The world sitting there uninviting
Your emotions they misread
When the world makes the rules, when you’re down on your knees
When it pours colossal raindrops, when you always sit there stuck
When the sweetest things taste bitter, when you’re bed is just so cozy
When this is all too much to take, please remember:
It’s ok to ask for help. It’s ok to be yourself
There are people just like you out there
And if you told them the truth, they would care.
I originally wrote this poem for a school project that was supposed to reflect on the school year, and my teacher suggested trying to publish it. This is the first poem I've ever shared with anyone, so I was a little nervous, but I'm glad I did it.
Middle school is a confusing time, and when people say it gets better, I find it very hard to believe. I spent a long time alone with no friends and everything just felt... it just felt so strange and lonely. I really can't find words to describe it.
There's been a lot of things these past couple of years. Middle school alone is tough, but add isolating for nearly two years due to COVID, trouble making friends, stress, and the weight of the world, things aren't great.
I wrote this piece as a reflection of how I've felt recently, and even though I haven't quite reached out to anyone yet, I'm hoping that this is the first step in the right direction.