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18+

Feeling Small

by RavenAkuma


Warning: This work has been rated 18+.

There is a difference,

Between being small,

And feeling small.

                 

When you get pushed down by someone bigger,

But pop up ready to swing back;

When you strain to reach the top shelf,

But don’t mind grabbing a stepstool real quick;

When you need a hand lifting something heavy

But you don’t get embarrassed -just brush it off;

When you get rejected from a fun ride,

But find an even more fun one instead;

When you get that look of suspicion while ordering a cocktail,

But you can crack a joke about it too.

                  

All of that and more,

That’s not feeling small,

That’s just being small.

                 

However, when you start to get angry at something,

And instead of empathy, people just laugh at you;

When you feel a terrible pain in your body,

And people assume you’re being dramatic;

When you make a complaint about your environment,

And you’re brushed off because you aren’t paying enough;

When you want to help and do something,

And you find that you can’t do anything;

When you feel so miserable,

And it seems like no one is listening.

                    

Congratulations,

You know what it’s like to feel small,

And it has nothing to do with size.


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7 Reviews

Points: 126
Reviews: 7

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Tue Aug 27, 2024 7:43 pm
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AndyPinesPoetry wrote a review...



What a powerful piece of work.

Going through tough times and going through "feeling small" is something so many people have to go through on a daily basis. And people think that if they see it, saying "Oh, well, it will be okay" or, even worse, "There are people who have it much worse than you" don't understand what they're saying is not helpful most of the time.

If you say something, you get criticized, and looked down at for not being grateful, but if you stay quiet, then you're "rude" or get asked "whats wrong?".

Your poem expresses that feeling. Feeling small is nothing to do with size, as you said, and you've captured it beautifully.




RavenAkuma says...


Thank you so much for reviewing this. And here's a belated welcome to YWS! I hope you like it here! :D



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196 Reviews

Points: 22796
Reviews: 196

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Mon Aug 26, 2024 5:11 am
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Moonlily wrote a review...



Hello Hello I hope you dont mind me popping in with a quick review. I do hope you are doing okay whatever you're going through. It won't last forever and we will be here if you need anyone to talk to. Perhaps my thoughts could brighten your day or provide a bit of solace. With that being said I should start the review properly. Let's get into it, shall we?

Overall I found this a good read, considering you say you aren't a poet I have to disagree. In my oppoin poetry is about conveying emotion and ideas using language. You vividly did this without using flowery language and it worked super well.

The voice used here adds to the mundane grounded feel of the subject matter. I have to admit this is thoroughly relatable as I am pretty small myself. I was lucky enough to get a waitress who graduated with me so she knew I was old enough to drink my first time at a bar. Otherwise, I would have probably been mistaken for a fourteen-year-old or something. (Don't worry my province's legal drinking age is 19. )

However, on a more serious note, the second part is also very true. I have a bit more of a challenge being heard because I am the youngest in my family and thus the baby. Sometimes it feels like you have to blow up to be heard because you are talked over and too young to know what you're talking about. Honestly, it's the worst feeling and you can do nothing about it. I do hope one day you can be heard though.

Now onto feedback, don't worry as this will be short and semi-nitpicky. I just want to say I am not a professional nor do you have to use anything I say. You are the author after all.

I only have one line I would slightly tweak to have a better flow.

But pop back up, ready to swing back;


I do love this line but I feel like the use of back without much buffer feels a bit awkward. I feel you could get the same message across without it. It would sound something like this.

But pop back up, ready to swing


Regardless I loved this poem and truly hope things get better for you! Know you aren't alone and you can be heard here no matter what. As always keep writing and drink water!




RavenAkuma says...


Thank you for the kind words, and the honest feedback, always appreciated. Glad you found it relatable and enjoyed :)




You're given the form, but you have to write the sonnet yourself. What you say is completely up to you.
— Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time