I'M a Teen This Is What I Struggle With

{This "Free Verse" entry Received HONORABLE MENTIONS IN THE Intergenerational Poetry to Bridge the Generation Contest UNO Elders & Youth track" 2017 UNIVERSITY OF OMAHA OMAHA, NEBRASKA} (I was the only male entry in contest) October 15, 2017 I'm A Teen This is What I Struggle With I’m a teenager I’m upset depressed Being so, I’m A teen this is what I struggle with And I ain’t gonna call you mam or sir That’s in the history books nobody does that anymore I represent 30 percent of us that are one or been bullied All adults want to do is make us study I close to being grown you don’t understand I know as much or more than a woman or man I’m A teen this is what I struggle with I am tired of always being diss I ‘m a teen this is what I struggle with Feel like I’m imprisoned, these are our teen issues I have a right it’s my body part selective if I selective It’s my life if I choose to be sexually active My life complicated I’m not the only one you used drugs smoke pot now what Back in your day Getting drunk the past month I also say My life, my right again you did that too by the way I’m A teen this is what I struggle with I am tired of always being diss My message is I’m not heard, I’m hurt I eat the wrongs things I get big obese some of us throw up You can call it stayin thin being bulimic Can’t get no education, don’t have patients for them They can’t teach or tell me nothing gonna drop of school Maybe I’ll join the Army Where are the grownups when I have my problems peer pressure? They don’t have an answer for them I’m A teen this is what I struggle with I am tired of always being diss The sexting, hot man what a body, But when I get older that picture still out there Don’t have to be beaten up physically now it’s done electronically, on social media Just when I think I can control my life and mind On screen violence TV shows, movies and violence video games Keep me wake for weeks and days I am tired of always being diss I’m A teen this is what I struggle with 09/26/17 written by James Edward Lee Sr. for Intergenerational Poetry To Bridge Generations Elders & Youth 2017 Contest