POSTER CHILD.

really, you did this.

you,

who primed my feathers

in light up Reeboks

and Blues Clues backpack,

apple juice and 

missing teeth.

you lifted me 

in shattered arms

and expectant eyes

to sit on platforms

made of gold

with books 

three grades too high

and walks to classrooms

with kids twice my age

and you squeezed my hand

and said 

"you're so smart." 

but i was stupid

to believe you.

so feathers turned to wings

and Reeboks into Hokas,

Blues Clues into documentaries

about people I never knew,

but am supposed to mourn.

apple juice

turned into vodka

in a bar with an arcade

somewhere by the docks.

and atop this platform

made of gold

i looked down at the arms below

once raised, now crossed

saying

"you're such a know it all."

and i knew then

i wasn't smart

at all.

Author's Note

When I was younger, I was often told that I was advanced, special, above my grade level, and I think it gave me this inflated sense of self. Like I was prepared to tackle the world with anything and everything because I was "different". I was thankful for the support, but sometimes I think I resent believing that for so long.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Your poetry shows your amazing intellect.
But yes, we can get so pumped up by others, it is difficult to not get a swell head.
And the dumbest thing can be thinking we are so smart. There is always someone smarter who can come along and knock that arrogant block off of our head.
j.

[Buddhistboy73]

An interesting poem about upbringing and how our self-worth can be impacted by that.....

You do a good job of taking the reader on the mini-journey with your childhood self....

I liked these lines:
apple juice
turned into vodka
in a bar with an arcade
somewhere by the docks.

Thanks for sharing ....

BB73

[Michael Sun Bear]

Sometimes you just blow me away. Great writing. I was valedictorian of my high school; I thought myself superior in intelligence and talent until I reached university where I was quite ordinary.