"She's a smart kid," they said.

The words circle in my head.

They said I'd get a full ride,

go to college

get into Med.

But science was never my passion.

I didn't have a thing for fashion,

and when it came to history

all of the dates would turn to mashes–

So I wrote.

My writing scared people;

I was labeled "an odd duck",

but it was also inspiring–

some of my words stuck.

Being in the south,

news spread by word of mouth

That I was a kid with aural skill,

a kid to brag about.

I soon found that writers weren't needed

and poets were put to shame,

but that didn't stop me from tacking my name

on the ends of free verse.

On the streets I'd get cursed

for following my dreams…

Is life all it seems?

Go to school,

go to work, 

get money,

fall dead.

What if I want more than the things they said?

Sure, I'm a smart kid and I'm in college now,

but I'm not going to medical school because I see how

words can shape a nation,

bring about change to a generation.

So I continue writing

and my words keep on fighting

until one day I see the change

that I helped create

and we all can be happy

without the need to sedate.