If... | Teen Ink

If...

July 24, 2012
By so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 722 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be the change you want to see."


If a dog meows,
Is it considered a cat?
If a tree's leaves turn red,
Is it considered autumn?
If a light blinks rapidly,
Is considered to be on?
If a poet writes music,
Is he considered a songwriter?
If someone bangs on a door,
Is it considered knocking?
If, if, if.
If I stop this right here,
Is it considered rude?
If, if, if.
If a watermelon's orange,
Is it considered a cantaloupe?
If, if, if.
If only so many things,
So many wonders,
Can fit into a sentence-
If, if, if.
If friends have a fight,
Are they considered enemies?
Does it matter how they feel?
Or is it just how they're labeled?
If, if, if.
A name is nothing.
If, if, if.
If what's there is truly real.
And if this poem doesn't make any sense,
Then it's a work of art.


The author's comments:
This piece is about discrimination. It's about judging someone based on their race, religion, gender, etc. It's something, unfortunately,that most of us can relate to.

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This article has 53 comments.


so_joy SILVER said...
on Aug. 3 2014 at 11:38 am
so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 722 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be the change you want to see."

Thank you so much!

on Feb. 22 2014 at 2:23 am
michaela mrianda BRONZE, Temporary, Other
4 articles 0 photos 33 comments
Wow this is amazing. Beautifully written, realistic and true. The way you addressed discrimination is inspiring this was a powerful poem and a wonderful read. Thank You for sharing it. 

so_joy SILVER said...
on Jul. 28 2013 at 10:50 pm
so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 722 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be the change you want to see."

Thank you!

JRaye PLATINUM said...
on Jun. 27 2013 at 9:59 pm
JRaye PLATINUM, Dorr, Michigan
43 articles 10 photos 523 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;If you build your house far enough away from Trouble, then Trouble will never find you.&quot;<br /> <br /> &quot;Have you ever looked fear in the face and said, &#039;I just don&#039;t care.&#039;?&quot;

This is so unique! I really enjoyed it, it adresses an important topic so cleverly. Well done! :) Keep it up

so_joy SILVER said...
on Jun. 24 2013 at 11:38 am
so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 722 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Be the change you want to see.&quot;

Thank you!

on Jun. 14 2013 at 2:32 pm
Angel1932 PLATINUM, Antioch, California
33 articles 0 photos 90 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Love can touch us one time and last for a lifetime&quot; ~ Celine Dion<br /> &quot;If you&#039;re going to pray don&#039;t worry... if you&#039;re going to worry don&#039;t pray.&quot; ~ Mariah Carey

This is amazing. I loved the twist in this. You are very talented! excellent job. Please check out some of my work and rate, would truly appreciate it.

so_joy SILVER said...
on Apr. 9 2013 at 9:34 am
so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 722 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Be the change you want to see.&quot;

Thank you!

so_joy SILVER said...
on Apr. 9 2013 at 9:33 am
so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 722 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Be the change you want to see.&quot;

Thank you!

on Mar. 26 2013 at 11:28 am
Pargaran SILVER, New Glasgow, Other
6 articles 3 photos 123 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Be who you are, and say what you feel. Because those who mind don&#039;t matter, and those who matter don&#039;t mind.&quot; <br /> -Dr. Seuss

I agree with Twilightgirl! Thanks for asking me to check out your work, you are an amzing poet! I really enjoyed this one. I don't like the idea of labelling something without knowing the feeling behind it. Or, rather, the MEANING behind it. Cool stuff bro. I look forward to reading more.

amber603 GOLD said...
on Mar. 20 2013 at 12:15 am
amber603 GOLD, Durango, Colorado
10 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;You know that place between sleep and awake, the place where you can still remember dreaming? That&#039;s where I will always love you. That&#039;s where I&#039;ll be waiting.&quot; - J.M.B.<br /> <br /> To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.&quot; - J.K.R.

You make a huge point and I love ur way of dismissing labels too:)

so_joy SILVER said...
on Feb. 13 2013 at 7:04 pm
so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 722 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Be the change you want to see.&quot;

Thank you soo much!!!

on Jan. 29 2013 at 11:56 pm
Twilightgirl97 BRONZE, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
1 article 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
Psalm 63:3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.

You asked me to return the favor and I'm happy you did! Thank you for asking me to look at your work because its amazing. You're talented. Keep writing. I'll be watching for more from you:)

so_joy SILVER said...
on Jan. 18 2013 at 9:18 am
so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 722 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Be the change you want to see.&quot;

Thank you so much!!

so_joy SILVER said...
on Jan. 18 2013 at 9:18 am
so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 722 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Be the change you want to see.&quot;

Thank you!

on Jan. 16 2013 at 6:22 pm
my_story14 SILVER, Melissa, Texas
9 articles 3 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
Tell me I can&#039;t and I will, watch me.

And you thought my work was good. This was beautiful! Incredibly written and a clear statement. I have the chills!!!

on Jan. 16 2013 at 6:15 pm
TheSkyOwesMeRain GOLD, Irvine, California
13 articles 1 photo 299 comments

Favorite Quote:
Life isn&#039;t measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments which take your breath away.<br /> <br /> You are only as strong as your weakest link.

Wonderfully written! Thanks for addressing such an important issue that we are sometimes unaware of exists. 

so_joy SILVER said...
on Jan. 1 2013 at 5:25 pm
so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 722 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Be the change you want to see.&quot;

Thank you!

on Dec. 14 2012 at 6:39 am
LaurenD. BRONZE, Cambridge, Other
1 article 0 photos 5 comments

Favorite Quote:
I&#039;m going to smile like nothing is wrong, talk like everything is perfect, act like it&#039;s all a dream and pretend like it&#039;s not hurting me. ~ Anonymous

Well written and realistic :) Good job

so_joy SILVER said...
on Dec. 13 2012 at 9:21 am
so_joy SILVER, Navesink, New Jersey
8 articles 0 photos 722 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Be the change you want to see.&quot;

Thank you!

on Dec. 12 2012 at 1:51 pm
Shadowpomgurl PLATINUM, Canton, New York
22 articles 0 photos 126 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;I was NEVER that drunk.&quot; -Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow

you're super at this!i love this piece! <3