Juxtaposition
I walk for the sake of not sitting
I smile for the sake of not crying
I yell for the sake of not cowering
Because no matter how they force me to shrink
And be less
Less bossy, less loud
Less annoying, less much
I actually don’t care
One day people are going to love me
Just as I am
Without shrinking or changing at all
One day I’m going to do great things
And if you don’t want to see me now
Then look away
And stare up at me when I’m on my throne
Lottie O’Rourke is a teenager from Ireland who currently lives overseas in the Middle East. She has been writing stories and poetry for as long as she can remember, though the themes have changed slightly, evolving from unicorns to teenage struggles and politics. In her free time, Lottie is very active in playing sports like netball and Gaelic football but also does acting and reads a lot, including constant rereads of her favorite series, Boys of Tommen. Lottie’s poems generally originate from personal experiences and comment on social dynamics, friendships, or political situations that she experiences firsthand. She hopes other people can find comfort, relatability, or just enjoyment from them.
