Adolescent Angst

I peered into the mirror
I searched behind the mirror
Where am I
When will I be

When will the mirror
Reflect the real me
How do I become
More than a clothes hanging tree

Just a mean teen
Nobody listening
Nobody caring
Even a puppy barking at me

So I ask
When will I be
When will the mirror
Tell me I’m me.

-0-

About 1emeraldcity

Teacher, writer, touch of the poet, laughter, wit, cats, all animals, nature, solitude, friendship, cosy pubs, flamenco, classical guitar, good food...I even savor dark moments...occasionally.
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28 Responses to Adolescent Angst

  1. iBeingMe says:

    Lovely transformation… usually mirror showed us what we are ;) Loved this metaphoric use.

  2. jmbhatt says:

    Sounds simple but it is not. How thoughtfully you got under the skin of an adolescent!! That ever gnawing thought “Nobody listening/ Nobody caring/ Even a puppy barking at me” sums up a confused but angry mind!! Great.

  3. brian miller says:

    felt…i was a late bloomer…skinny as a rail and a clear target so i have uttered that plea before…

    • 1emeraldcity says:

      Well, here’s another late bloomer…been there, done that….how well I remember the pain of growing up…and it was endless…Thanks for read, comment, and sharing, Brian!

  4. peterwilkin says:

    Lovely, poignant poem Jacquie ~ I guess we can all remember those adolescent peeks into the mirror looking for clues to our identity. Oh! And trying to cover up those pesky spots (& throwing oneself on the bed & howling when one couldn’t)!!!

    • 1emeraldcity says:

      Isn’t it good to know who and what you are, tho sometimes we might want to change some of that. Painful time for so many youngsters. Thanks, Peter, for your thoughtful, funny, comment, as always!

  5. The answer is sooner than you think…and not as quick as you’d like. Good track back to the times when defining oneself was so difficult and knowing there were so many choices and so little guidance. Well done!

  6. libithina says:

    ‘when will I be’
    that time of insecurity,
    teenage angst,
    on the brink of self discovery
    ‘through’ and ‘behind the mirror’
    Be ~ coming ~
    Lovely Jackie, really captured this
    ~ Lib ~ Xoxx

  7. C Rose says:

    Waiting on the reflection…this put so well into your words. Lovely write my friend ~ Rose

  8. A lovely poem, takes me back to my teens, so many questions back then, thankyou! :o )

  9. love this, it is painful to recall the experience, but it is necessary for healthy growth.
    cheers.
    :)

  10. Excellent, Jackie! Really gets to the heart of those feelings at that age. And reminds me of that Mulan song. You and Disney — putting things as only a poet can.

    Dittoes on the late blooming for me.

    14 was hard. But 47 is pretty good actually! Some days I feel almost grown up. :)

    xo

    • 1emeraldcity says:

      hey Funster! I’ll never grow up completely…and neither will you, I think..I hope..! But those days were pretty painful! Thanks so much for the read and lovely comment! Onward! LOL!

  11. John Ross Barnes says:

    This seems somewhat Different for you, but still done with your Usual sensitivity and style. It’s been a long forty years since those days for me, but I still recall tthe general mindset..
    Thanks for this.

    • 1emeraldcity says:

      Hi, John! Well, it’s not my usual, true, but you know, you write about what strikes you at the time…and something, someone hit a chord…and there it is…Thanks John for the read and comment!

  12. fridayam says:

    There are some striking lines here Jackie. I felt it could be one verse longer in the middle. Nice stuff x

  13. Eva Von Pelt says:

    Wonderful! Although present during the teen years, I have to say your words could reflect several different times in my life, including now : ) Lovely writing and thank you for sharing!
    -Eva

    • 1emeraldcity says:

      Hi, Eva! Yes, those words could reflect all of our lives at different phases. But teenage angst just seems so much more intense and difficult. Thank you so much, Eva, for the read and thoughtful comment!

  14. zongrik says:

    yes, being a teen really hurts, and you are never sure who you really are.

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