They told us to be strong.
They told us to never act wrong.
They told us we couldn’t break.
They told us what we had to make.
They told us where our value came from.
They told us that we needed to get some.
They told us to always be stoic.
They told us to forever be heroic.
They told us to not flinch.
They told us to keep growing another inch.
They told us to get good grades.
They told us not to depend on crutches or aids.
They told us to be mighty fighters.
They told us to make it, even if we turned into liars.
They told us what we should be interested in.
They told us to compete and always be ready to win.
They told us all right.
Now look what we’ve become.
Should anyone even be surprised?
But, they told us…
About the Creator
Rowan Finley
Father. Academic Advisor. Musician. Writer. My real name is Jesse Balogh.
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Expert insights and opinions
Arguments were carefully researched and presented
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Keep reading
More stories from Rowan Finley and writers in Poets and other communities.
Comments (1)
Oof, this piece packs a punch—are you calling out a specific "they," or is this aimed at society as a whole?