a poem by Luke Quinn, ’21
As a child, one can look at his or her self
And say, I want to be a firefighter
Because of that book on that shelf.

As a child, one can look at somebody else
And say, I want to be like him,
Because of that book on that shelf.

As we grow older, so do our thoughts.
We start thinking of who we can be, and who we can not.
We begin to develop an idea,
One that comes with great fear.
“What if she doesn’t like my clothes?”
“What if he doesn’t like my personality?”
This is the reality, a world of protective walls.

We all have this idea of acceptance,
Trying to fit in by hiding the truth.
Slowly morphing into how others see you.

So no matter how protective your wall is,
We dare you to take it down.
We look through our walls and dare you to crush yours to the ground.
Because we are too scared,
Of the vast forces that will tear us apart.
With no wall and a forgotten heart.

As one grows older, one can’t look at his or herself,
And say, I want to be an open book.
Why? Because of the way one looks.