“Me”
Written in May 2025
I’m currently still trying to find me.
I’m not sure who he is yet.
So, I’m searching for his key.
I don’t know where to look.
Some days feel like a bunch of revolving doors,
all the very same.
It’s not bad, not bad that days move together in fours,
but it becomes tiring.
Lately, time has been slipping beneath my fingers,
through my palms.
It’s not possible seventh grade no longer lingers,
gone forever.
I’m still so young yet becoming so old,
growing up.
Soon will come housing, insurance, jobs, the cold
and money.
I feel like I’m dying from other people’s point of views,
cutting the trees down all on my own.
I’m crashing into a wall with my totaled vehicles,
exploding every single situation.
Anxiety isn’t on the guest list to my birthday parties,
and neither is anyone else this year.
However, it continues to show up unattended to tease,
ruining the already ruined occasion.
The birds continue to chirp and chirp and chirp away,
I walk into the room and the murmurs go astray.
Were they chirping about him? Am I a goner? What happened?
It’s me.
It used to be fun, playing, dreaming, running, dancing, leaping,
having self-control of my emotions.
Nowadays, negativity, negativity, negativity, negativity, and negativity,
losing control of the same emotions.
People in the world around me are making earth so very miserable.
The focus is placed on the wrong side of the river.
The country is divided, war is at large, every industry is in downfall.
The focus is placed on the only side it can be.
I’m not helping with the problems of humanity either.
I can hold quite the grudge,
cut people off who I’ve known for centuries,
ruin every event I attend,
place last in the run for positivity,
and lose the key to me.
I can’t be the missing piece to the puzzle of earthly restoration,
and I surely shouldn’t try to be.
I’ve never made enough accomplishments or done enough work,
so what’s the point of trying?
It’s easy to let myself submerge deep towards depression,
but there’s also so much for my mind to stay afloat for.
It can’t be true that all days are revolving doors,
they’re all different in their own way.
Being tired is a sign of working hard and putting effort forth,
building a future that you’ll feel proud of.
Thirteen amazing years have slipped through my fingers,
but time flies when you’re having fun.
It is in fact true that seventh grade no longer lingers,
but now I can look forward to eighth.
I am honestly feeling so young and old at the same time,
but now I can look forward to the next stage of my life.
It’s exciting to experience adulthood and old rhymes,
setting my feet towards the bridge to my passion.
I’m not dying from other people’s point of views,
because I am, in fact, thriving in my amazing life.
People who agree with my positive statements may be few,
but my crashed car and explosions have passed.
Letting anxiety in the front door on my birthday is a choice,
as well as every other day of the year.
I won’t hear its calling tone and pulling voice,
to an occasion that hasn’t been ruined yet.
The birds can continue to chirp and chirp and chirp away,
because why do I care what they think?
My mind had previously gone far off course and astray,
but they aren’t my allies, and I don’t want them to be.
I can continue to have fun playing, dreaming, running, dancing, leaping,
acting and truly being positive in my outstanding life.
All people talk about is negativity, negativity, negativity, negativity, and negativity,
but that won’t alter my opinion, perspective, voice, mind, or life.
People around me can continue to be miserable, though earth isn’t,
because the world is amazing and has amazing people.
Don’t divide, don’t discourage, lift one another up to the skies.
Why does the placement of the river matter?
I’m helping so much with the problems of humans, too.
I can uplift,
I can work hard,
I can promote teamwork,
I can use my beautiful mind,
and I can make a change.
I might not be the only puzzle piece out there, but I am one,
because I am a positive and optimistic individual.
Each person to change out of their blue and into their yellow will be the next piece,
and humanity might finally have a chance of completing the puzzle.
I still currently haven’t found me,
but I might know who he is now.
I think the key to me is me.
I know exactly where to look.
A Note From Roderick
“Me” feels like a great combination of everything I’ve ever felt during my years of adolescence, and I think many people my age can relate to it. The piece lists everything that can be looked at in my life with a negative perspective and powerfully shapeshifts each point with an optimistic point of view. While “Me” was originally just another assignment for my Honor’s English 10 course, it has since proven to leave a larger impact than I would’ve ever imagined. Most of the people I’ve shared it with thus far have spoken to me about how the piece is a good resource of positivity and a reminder to look on the bright side of every situation. The poem also gave me a bittersweet final memory with my great-grandmother. She had heard such great reviews about “Me” from my grandparents and asked me to read it aloud to her in the hospital. She then inquired for her own copy, which I printed out for her after her move into a hospice center. When she passed, one of the items that remained on her nightstand was her copy of “Me,” and this was the first time I felt prompted to do something by a piece of poetry. Instead of submerging into a depressing place over her passing, I decided to stay afloat, feel the complex emotions, but not be strangled by them. All in all, when I think about myself as a poet, “Me” clearly portrays my overall message and desire for optimism, positivity, and unity.