Best Poems Written by Laila Tov

Better Than Others

It's curious 
how people learn
to measure human worth.

When I was a girl
my parents would say
that for me to be better than others
I had to be smarter than others.
So I got the good grades 
without working too hard
and I showed everyone I was smart.

When I was a teen
the world seemed to say
that for me to be better than others
I had to be hotter than others.
So I put on short skirts
and I ate once a day
and I thought I'd be pretty that way.

When I went to college
my classmates would say
that for me to be better than others
I had to have more friends than others.
So I went to the parties,
learned to handle a bong
but those friendships - they didn't last long.

When I started working
my colleagues would say
that for me to be better than others
I had to work harder than others
So I stayed up all night
and I worked till I dropped
and I struggled to rise to the top.

And then I met you
and you'd often say
there's no need to be better than others
just try to be kinder to others.
So I tried to be kind
but it was just too darn hard
How I wish it were enough 
to just be smart!

Copyright © Laila Tov | Year Posted 2017