That Was I | Teen Ink

That Was I MAG

May 31, 2009
By MereChar SILVER, Gwinn, Michigan
MereChar SILVER, Gwinn, Michigan
8 articles 4 photos 11 comments

That was I
on Saturday night,
feet scraping noisily up and down the graffiti basketball court
beating invisible enemies down to the very concrete.
Alone.
I heard you giggle a bit
at my fashionably worn tennis shoes
a holey T-shirt and three-dollar shorts.
You portray thoughts so openly:
“Poor thing.
Is she playing to escape?”
Truthfully, I escape to play.

That was I
in the beat-up '89 Ford,
content to waste ten dollars on gas
and sixty miles in tow
only to be seen licking greasy fingers
from cheeseburgers and pen ink
in the coldest McDonald's on Earth,
despite what they say.
“Shopping” in Walmart with three cents and a smile;
it's late,
and the customers begin to say,
“Silly child, stop riding that tricycle built for a four-year-old
around the store” and we are kicked out
… time number four.

That was I
laboring over homework,
drawing doodles
in the shade
of my secret place
where I checked once, twice,
to make sure no one adventured
into the woods behind me,
for the old deer trail was my own.

However, when the birch trees
were strained with great ice sheets
and branches began to fall,
you consequently stumbled onto my path
and eyed me up
when I wanted to shuffle past.
You asked if I was hunting
to which I replied,
“I go to write and dream.”
Of course you snorted disbelievingly.

That was I
the simple child,
out of place except within myself
who spent long hours dreaming of
the future,
but who will never forget to return home.



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This article has 21 comments.


on Nov. 21 2010 at 10:16 pm
MereChar SILVER, Gwinn, Michigan
8 articles 4 photos 11 comments
Thank you so much! That means so much to me.

on Nov. 21 2010 at 7:54 pm
SophaDee SILVER, Westport, Connecticut
7 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
"We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that's all."- The Breakfast Club

This is lovely! I found it in the May magazine and I loved it--it paints a vivid picture of your life, and I found it very inspiring. Great job! :)

on Jun. 9 2010 at 12:57 pm
pollorambo GOLD, Indianapolis, Indiana
12 articles 0 photos 18 comments

Favorite Quote:
there is a difference between knowledge & Intelligents

nise i like

on May. 5 2010 at 11:05 pm
ToniAntatenique SILVER, Leadville, Colorado
5 articles 1 photo 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Sometimes you lose a battle, but mischief wins the war."-John Green, Looking for Alaska

This is a wonderful piece

It is truly amazing!

Keep up the great work...


on May. 5 2010 at 9:02 pm
MereChar SILVER, Gwinn, Michigan
8 articles 4 photos 11 comments
Thank you to everyone. :) Your comments honor me with your kindness.

Duckie430 said...
on May. 5 2010 at 3:13 pm
Duckie430, Riverside, Rhode Island
0 articles 0 photos 228 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;The secret to life is being who you are and being happy with who you are.&rdquo;<br /> &quot;Whatever does not kill you only makes you stronger.&quot;

this is absolutely amazing. this poem seems so reall and unique, & i love the way it flows. keep writing. :)

on May. 3 2010 at 2:18 pm
FlyleafFreak DIAMOND, Loveland, Colorado
51 articles 0 photos 203 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;I have faith in fools;self confidence my friends call it&quot;~Edger Allan Poe<br /> &quot;In this world of infinite insanity, your friends are the best psychiatrists you will ever have.&quot;~Me

Wow, this is beautfiful. The eloquence and uniqueness of this poem austounds me and really inspires me. Tremendous job! Never stop writing!

LuckyThree said...
on May. 3 2010 at 8:14 am
LuckyThree, Ft.Lauderdale, Florida
0 articles 0 photos 10 comments
Nice! I love it! Keep up the good work.

Eilatan GOLD said...
on May. 3 2010 at 5:53 am
Eilatan GOLD, Old Greenwich, Connecticut
11 articles 1 photo 307 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Nobody is normal. Everybody in the world is a weirdo freak. Except you, which makes you a weirdo freak.&quot;

this was so amazing! i loved the descriptions. please consider reading some of my work, i'd be honored...

 

good job!


on May. 2 2010 at 8:34 pm
LoveLikeWoe DIAMOND, LeSueur, MN, Minnesota
54 articles 2 photos 748 comments

Favorite Quote:
Whoever laughs first has the sickest mind.

this left me absolutely speechless. amazing. :)

on May. 2 2010 at 8:06 pm
MereChar SILVER, Gwinn, Michigan
8 articles 4 photos 11 comments
Thank you so much to all of you :)

on May. 2 2010 at 7:17 pm
BekkahsLoopy GOLD, San Jose, California
10 articles 4 photos 32 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Keep looking forward; don&#039;t look back.&quot;<br /> &quot;To the world, you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.&quot;

the simple power of words. awesome job.

on May. 2 2010 at 3:17 pm
maybesomeday101 BRONZE, Gallipolis, Ohio
1 article 0 photos 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;If we begin to discover a feeling in our hearts that nothing in this world can satisfy, we should begin to wonder if perhaps we were created for another world&quot; -C.S Lewis

i am jealous of your ability to move your words so easily. nice job

on May. 1 2010 at 4:43 pm
HeatherBee BRONZE, I Live In, Texas
1 article 0 photos 1979 comments

Favorite Quote:
Go on and try to tear me down. I will be rising from the ground, like a skyscraper<br /> <br /> Love is louder than the pressure to be perfect

that was interesting. goood job:D

on May. 1 2010 at 12:39 pm
PoeticTouch GOLD, Saida, Other
11 articles 0 photos 47 comments

Favorite Quote:
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow

this is nice, keep on writing...

on Apr. 30 2010 at 10:33 pm
MereChar SILVER, Gwinn, Michigan
8 articles 4 photos 11 comments
Thank you, I will. :)

on Apr. 30 2010 at 10:33 pm
MereChar SILVER, Gwinn, Michigan
8 articles 4 photos 11 comments
Thanks! :)

on Apr. 30 2010 at 10:33 pm
MereChar SILVER, Gwinn, Michigan
8 articles 4 photos 11 comments
Thank you very much :)

on Apr. 30 2010 at 10:11 pm
RadioShower PLATINUM, Rio Rancho, New Mexico
23 articles 5 photos 69 comments

Favorite Quote:
Emo is imaginary - Gerard Way<br /> Normalness leads to sadness -Phil Lester (AmazingPhil)

wow that was awsome!!!! loved it!

doodlemonkey said...
on Apr. 30 2010 at 6:42 pm
doodlemonkey, La Palma, California
0 articles 19 photos 47 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;One mans heart is greater than the mind of a genius.&quot; &quot;In life people forget things but the most dangerous thing forgotten is who we are.&quot; &quot;It takes skill to trip on flat surfaces.&quot; &quot;One makes all the differences in the world.&quot; -all by me (hailey)

that's a fantastic poem... i can relate... your really good... don't ever give up... never let go... enjoy whatcha doin'... live that dream, and just take it all in