Creative Conformity

"You are ... different, aren't you?" she said, crinkling her nose. That sentiment, spoken by my fourth grade home-room teacher Had been paraphrased many times before (And would be countless times again) Different, unusual, odd, weird, curious, complex, or just plain strange Those were the kind ones - the ones I can repeat My favorite, however, was "unique" The day my mother put it into that sensible little frame, I knew ... I ... was HOME. You see, we creative folk Are not put on this good earth to "fit" into it We are not molded to be a status quo part of society But rather, set apart FROM society Our gifts are granted us in order to change the world Not continue the order of its mundane spin We are interpreters of the language of beauty and ingenuity We weave expression and imagination into what's tangible and visible Turning ideas and emotions to the substance of words and color and sound Bringing light and clarity to variation and choice We are the very children of NON-conformity Living proof that acquiescence and conventionality stifle the human spirit We are soldiers of vision, innovation, cleverness, and inspiration Fighting the war on commonplace, submission and docility Battling daily in the name of ALL who are unlike the Average Joe And bringing inspiration to the world. So, do I think I'm "special"? Yes, for we are ALL special ... every single human is born with unique gifts Ours - the artistic talents - just happen to be of a creative fashion. Yes, I am odd, strange, weird, different, unusual, and unique ... And I am BLESSED ... to be so. ~ 4th Place ~ in the "CReAtiVe CoNForMiTy" Poetry Contest, John Lawless, Judge & Sponsor.