They are not right
You think they're right, but they are not right
You see, you are the best
I am the best
I can do anything
You know what it's like, you know even now
You see it even now, when you pick up something
And you master it in hours
You are a gift, gifted beyond means
But gifts end
They are not right
Whatever they tell you, they are not right
You are right, and you mustn't believe them
Because you can do anything right now
You will retire young, be wealthy
Because they are not right, and you can
You can do all you say you can
I believed them
I believed them and it took me
Years and years and years
Before I realized they were not right
Years and years and years
Before I realized they were wrong
And when the years were up, it was too late
Oh, I will make it, yes
I am still the best
I can still do anything
But it all comes slower now, you see
I will be wealthy one day
But I will never be spoken of through all generations
Perhaps, if a novel sells, or someone reads a poem
But not like the dreams you have now
And I had then
And I will be wealthy when I am fifty
And too old to spend it
I will be wealthy through frugal living
And through scrimping and saving
As a normal man might be
But you are not a normal man
You can do anything
And they are not right
You must not, must not believe them
For if you do, it will be too late
You will be sitting in an apartment, alone
Writing free verse for an online poetry contest
With nothing to look forward to but another day
Another dollar closer to the dream
That you can have when you're twenty
If you only believe
They are not right
Author notes
"You're just like everyone else" is the worst thing you can say to a child, even an egotistical one.
A contest entry
- . by Aurora Ceres.
600 points, ended August 19, 2007, 17 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
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Oy, one more thing, yes, I know this wasn't a message for the children of the world. It may not be reflected in my comment but I was aware the whole time reading that this was you speaking to your younger self.
Again, admire your honesty and the fact that you stand firmly by what you believe....beyond admirable as so many will not.
Done chatting!
Bella
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I have read this over and over. Please pardon me if my comment becomes at all scattered. While I agree with you that it is very damaging to tell a child they are 'like everyone else' I think it can be just as damaging to tell them they are the best and they can do anything. There has to be balance. Telling a child they are the best and that they can do anything...well, is that true? No. It's rather unrealistic in todays world. As we come to realize when we grow up...you cannot do 'anything' and 'everything'. There are limitations set by society, sometimes physical limitations....other examples fail to come to me now but, I have seen this all myself. We can, however, teach them to be the best they can be, to aspire, set attainable and realistic goals for themselves. At the root of all of this though...a child's esteem is such a delicate thing. They should be taught from day one that what matters more than money, material possessions...(it's all well and good to show them those types of 'good things' in life)...is morality, integrity, sensibility, work ethic, honesty, to love themselves, nurture their spirit...and so on and so on(values that are sorely lacking in todays world of, ME ME ME!) That is what they should be taught to strive for, those are the aspects that should be nurtured for without those, they will have nothing. Money comes and goes as do material possessions...all one is left with at the end of the day...is their mind, heart and soul. I certainly wouldn't forsake them for anything.
I just saw so very little of that here and what I did see was brief as a brush stroke and that saddens me.
Feel free to correct me if I read this all wrong. Remember, in the beginning, I said that I did agree with what you say in your notes.
I also want to mention that I admire your honesty too. Even though, I do not agree with all of the sentiments your piece carries.
Thank you for entering and best of luck to you.
Bella
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I'm sorry if this somewhat conflicts with that worldview, but I honestly was an extremely gifted child. I'm still a rather bright adult, but children can do things adults can't do. See, when a child sets out to do something, their mind, biologically, is able to accomplish more. A child's mind is naturally more intuitive, more creative, and more brilliant than an adult's mind, because it is growing. When you have an exceptionally gifted child, that only becomes moreso.
Obviously I couldn't do everything, but I had the skill to do everything I wanted to do. But I'm not really doing anything I want to do (other than my occasional writing contract,) because I didn't believe I could. It's a slow process, once a child's self-esteem has been shattered, to teach them that they can. It lasts with us through adulthood.
This isn't for every child. This isn't my message to the children of America. Not every child can do everything they want. Some simply don't have the aptitude for their dreams. That's nothing to be ashamed of. Being gifted isn't anything to be proud of, it's something that's biological, and I had nothing whatsoever to do with my being gifted.
But I have everything to do with how I use those gifts. These are my words to ME. To MY younger self. And a bit more faith in myself would have meant wonders. -
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Honestly, it wasn't that your poem conflicted so much as I just didn't see the point you just made in your reply to me, in your poem. Okay, I did, but just a tiny bit. The focus seemed to be much more on the money and success that was lacking due to what was not nurtured within you as a child...that is what I was getting at. In no way am I trying to insult you or your point of view.
Now, if you had put more focus on the substance of in the first paragraph of your reply, it would have made more sense and come across..hmm..with more importance? Again though, that is just my opinion.
I agree with you, wholeheartedly, that children are a resource of untapped potential and that is something that should be fed, nurtured and guided for the sake of their greater good.
I failed to mention earlier how I was pleased to read this as it is the most unique of the entries and it really made me sink within my head and my heart and I was lost in serious thought, on paths I needed to be at the moment. I love poems that do that...even when I may not agree or whatever the case may be. So, please know, that though we may not see completely eye to eye, this was still a pleasure for me to read.
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