Teen life

by Henry Burt Stevens
04/15/2004

Being a teen is hell
pressure, questions all the time
answers scarce changing

push me pull me
punch me kick me
why am I always wrong
and they are always right?

If I write a novel
with my pictures
about a serial killer
and turn it in at school
I'll get expelled
sent to the school shrink
profiled by the cops.

If a retired police officer
writes about a serial killer
he's expressing art.

But the biggest bummer
is no one will listen to me
I would just like to talk
without being advised,
corrected, put down
ratted on, walked away from--

Isn't there anyone who will just listen?

I'll be happy when I am twenty-two.