Teenager

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I know what it's like,
to be a teenager, my love.
I've been there too;
I'm not that old.

I was caught for firsts,
which were soon, my lasts.
Been embarrassed by
two old crones, that moan,
about the clothes I wore.
I've been there too;
I'm not that old.

Had a father who
was too suffocating;
like a boa constrictor;
"I always know when you're lying;
Your lips move."
I've been there too;
I'm not that old.

Had a mother who
watched me like a hawk,
waiting to swoop down
on me if my skirt was,
a tad too short.
I've been there too;
I'm not that old.

"You're old and boring,
you don't understand me!"
I've been there too;
I am that old.

-----

Okai, this is different to what I normally write; any suggestions of improvement would be appreciated.
Last edited by GingerLizzy on Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Nice. I liked the first parts, they were very true and exactly what life can be like.

But this part:

"You're old and boring,
you don't understand me!"
I've been there too;
I am that old.


I didn't understand this bit. Was the person remembering their teenage years or something?

was too restricting;
like a boa constrictor;


I don't think you should use restricting and constrictor. You need to change one of them, because it doesn't seem to flow well.

Other than that, I really liked it.
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This is cute!

The only thing I can think to complain about is flow. Read it out loud; it doesn't flow in place, most notably the "I am not that old" part. Your line breaks are strange so it isn't natural to read it.

And maybe you could reduce the telling and put in more imagery.
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I really liked this, very true.

The third stanza didn't flow though, perhaps just cut "who was too suffocating" and just leave at "like a boa constructor" we should be able to understand. Or "who suffocated me like a boa constructor." Perhaps it's the 'ing' that throws the stanza off. (???)

I liked the fourth stanza, just be careful with commas, just because Word says you need them doesn't mean you do. c:

Great job!




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I know what it's like,
to be a teenager, my love. [I don't know why, but 'my love' doesn't seem to fit for me.]
I've been there too;
I'm not that old.

I was caught for firsts,
which were soon, my lasts.
Been embarrassed by
two old crones, that moan,
about the clothes I wore. [This sentence's tenses are off. i think 'moan' should be 'moaned'.]
I've been there too;
I'm not that old.

Had a father who
was too suffocating;
like a boa constrictor; [This is awkward.]
"I always know when you're lying;
Your lips move."
I've been there too;
I'm not that old.

Had a mother who
watched me like a hawk,
waiting to swoop down [This line break isn't right.]
on me if my skirt was,
a tad too short.
I've been there too;
I'm not that old.

"You're old and boring,
you don't understand me!"
I've been there too;
I am that old. [This doesn't make sense to me. What is the message you are trying to get across with this?]

Overall, this is a good poem. I enjoyed it. Just that last line didn't make sense, and a few other things. So, with a small bit of revise and edit, this will be a brilliant poem. Good show.




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Hi,
This poem was a cute little read. I liked the repetition in it!

I didn't really understand this part though:

"You're old and boring,
you don't understand me!"
I've been there too;
I am that old.


I don't know if you just wrote it because it fit, or if there is a reason behind it, I did that in one of my poems.

I think this poem really represents what Teenagers think of their parents, my friends mom says that to her all the time.

Whenever we talk about this though, my friend always says: "It's different now, it's not like what it was like back then."

Which is true.

I like your poem. I going to go look for more of your pieces.

-lg*
Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don't feel I should be doing something else.
-Gloria Steinem




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Aw! Ginger!!! I love it!!! :D
We're meant to be one
I know we are...
If I am the Sky
Then you are my star... ™




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This poem was a tad bit confusing but still good, just a few suggestions for improvement.

Quote:
"You're old and boring,
you don't understand me!"
I've been there too;
I am that old.


This part made no sense what so ever to me, a little editing would help to clarify this stanza.

That was really the only thing that really bugged me, when you edit it please let me know, I would love to see the edited version.

PM me with any questions. PM me when you have edited it.

Thank You and Good Luck

-BroadwayGirl :D
Want something critiqued? PM me, I'd be glad to help you out with that.




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Hey, I liked this poem. So its not exactly moving, but I can really relate to what the poetic voice is trying to say, and understanding it sometimes hard to come by when the poet is tyring too hard.
Great Job!

Eimearxx
We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.

Oscar Wilde.




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I really like this, Lizzy. I'd cut 'my' before 'love"...I can't really explain why, just going with my instincts here...

I'd get rid of the comma after "soon". I'd change "that moan" to "who moaned".

I agree that "like a boa constrictor" is awkward. Maybe choose a different similie, or change it to a description of what he did to suffocate the speaker, and put it on two lines.

I love the dialogue.

I'd change;
"waiting to swoop down
on me if my skirt was,
a tad too short. "

to;
"waiting to swoop
if my skirt was too short."


I'd change

""You're old and boring,
you don't understand me!""

to;

"You're old and (you're) boring (take or leave the extra 'you're'.)
You don't understand!"

I'm not sure how I feel about changing 'not' to 'am'...on one hand, I liked the variation, but on the other I'm not really sure what yo're getting at...it seemed very contradictory, which may undermine the poem..

Anyway, this was a really lovely piece overall and I really enjoyed it.

Hope this helps.

Jas
"Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise."
-Maya Angelou




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This has worked out well considering it is not your typical style!

However I must agree it did not flow smootly in parts.

An obvious stutter is the link or lack of between restricting and constrictor.

Had a mother who
watched me like a hawk,
waiting to swoop down
on me if my skirt was,
a tad too short.



If this were mine, I would possibly cut out the "on me" before "if my skirt was" or edit the words in some way.

Otherwise an excellent poem and idea.

Dofs...
Im the author of my own life.
Unfortunately, im writing in pen and can't erase my mistakes!!!




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Hey

I love this poem, i can realate to the part when you said

Had a father who
was too suffocating;
like a boa constrictor; [This is awkward.]
"I always know when you're lying;
Your lips move."
I've been there too;
I'm not that old.

This helped the me relate to the poem because i have an over protective father, who wont let go of me, and barley gives me any freedom.

I really like the poem idea of the middle aged person thinking back to her time as teen, and you touched on many things that teens go through.

The poem would probaly be even better if you mantioned the mother thinking back to her friendships when she was a teenager, it can help people relate to it and understand it more.

Keep up the good work
T




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Had a mother who
watched me like a hawk,
waiting to swoop down
on me if my skirt was,
a tad too short.
I've been there too;
I'm not that old.
what do you mean your mother was like a hawk? Please explain a little more in detail about your mother it caught my fancy.

Becareful that each line make sense cause some things I read in here do not really make sense to me. But I like you poem Very Good. *Clap!*

SimonCowellLuver :)
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2. you just tried it
3. I caught you cause i saw you




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Interesting. I like how unique it is but I think you can write more.
I will review for you! PM about it if you need one!


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GingerLizzy wrote:I know what it's like,
to be a teenager, my love.
are you speaking to a lover? a daughter? What? can't tell with this line

GingerLizzy wrote:I was caught for firsts,
which were soon, my lasts

Maybe its just me, but these lines makes no sense. caught for firsts? what is that? the second line makes a ibt more since, but since it is coupled with the first, it is unimaginably confusing.
GingerLizzy wrote:Been embarrassed by
two old crones, that moan,
about the clothes I wore.

I don't like the old crones part, but I really don't think this whole part flows very well.

GingerLizzy wrote:Had a father who
was too suffocating;
like a boa constrictor;
"I always know when you're lying;
Your lips move."

I like this part in it's entiretiy, except I think perhaps adding "I" before the first line would be useful.

GingerLizzy wrote:Had a mother who
watched me like a hawk,
waiting to swoop down
on me if my skirt was,
a tad too short.


This is a good visual, but I think the word "tad" isn't appropriate, try to find another word that would more appropriately express the amount.

GingerLizzy wrote:"You're old and boring,
you don't understand me!"

I think these lines are entirely missplaced in this poem. That is a personal opinion.

I think that you should leave out the 2 lines that end each stanza, till the very end of the poem, for more dramatic effect.
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