"ode to teenagers"
{ part of the semi-emo collection. aha. }


farewell to friends on face
book, and dances we attended like we were something else
the inferior freshman we were,
stabbing our friends in the backs with an axe
of immaturity;
trying to find our way in such a place.

sophomores we became to, later, our dismay
and learned how to copy homework
without getting caught
and how to stay up all night as to write
some essay
we'd put off til the last day.

then we got smarter.
and learned how to skip classes
and smoke cigarettes when we went out late, double date
with our friends
who cared about school
just as much as any other junior.
(how cool.)

here we are.
seniors derived from detention
lied to by our lovers
somehow we enjoyed ourselves
(even if that meant making fun of nasty p.d.a.)
and we've learned oh so much.
like how to cheat.
and be cheated.
and what that's like
and what's wrong and what's right
how to be strong and put up a fight


for ourselves,
our selfish selves.


are we really prepared for our lives
for what awaits us past the double doors?
we utter parting words and

forget friendships




and write something fake in a yearbook.
we bid each other goodbye
and say like it's a school motto
"i dare you to be someone that you're not"








even though we knew we'd been playing such a game for years.