Gabe's Bio

"Not Every Teen" (return to top)

I am fourteen,

And get treated like an abomination,

This sensation sends me into hibernation, to cry over this discrimination,

And the quest for assimilation overwhelms me,

People glare, whisper "look over there," a mischief-making, trouble-creating teen,

See that stuffed backpack, I bet he doesn't have any idea what he wants to do,

Let alone a career track, we can't cut him no slack, watch out,

Any second now he might attack,

Look at his baggy jeans, that's a sure sign, so in their window they put up a sign,

One student in the store at a time,

And I find that this follows me like a shadow, casting shadows of doubt in people's minds,

People of all kinds look at me and whisper,

"What do you think he's up to now?"

Maybe, just maybe, I'm more concerned with the Dow's industrial average,

Than the average Nike shoe, try that one on for size,

Does it feel comfortable?

How 'bout this?

Two teens just robbed the gas station, disappointments to their nation,

Or more accurately, a delight to the news, because they seem to love,

Jacking up all our misdeeds, planting the seeds of ageism,

See that's where this creation comes from, that every teen is carrying around a gun.

That every teen can't think up a good pun, that every teen when they see a cop will run

Well, guess what?

I am not every teen, I am not part of the machine,

I am not living the dream; I'm living my dream,

'Cause do you realize that you were once fourteen?

That you were once wearing those same Nike shoes?

Did you know that I don't smoke weed?

Did you know I'm not causing trouble on the streets?

Did you know that I write poetry?

Did you know that there's a thing called Youth Speaks?

Do you know my GPA?

By any chance did you know that it's 4.0 today?

Did you know that I'm not afraid, to throw back what you throw at me?

Don't you understand, I am making a stand,

Don't you see, that I will speak freely, and that I will fight back?

And now you're all for reconciliation,

Now you're rethinking your thoughts about our after-school associations,

And now you're wondering if all we really do is play Play Station.

Your magazines seem to be opening up, letting us into the mainstream,

They're saying teens are changing and starting to enjoy school,

After talking to six of them,

Every teen is enjoying school?

Now tell me you'll turn around and say,

"All adults are enjoying work."

Why, instead of being tried for who I am, must I be classified?

Asian, teenager, student, fourteen, freshman, Jewish,

Instead of the guy that's always laughing?

Who knows, maybe I'm not hostile,

Maybe it would be worth your while to let me learn about your style,

Maybe I'm not the typical animal in between an adult and a child,

Maybe I'm not just another kid going through the teenage turnstile,

Maybe I'm not all that crazy and wild; maybe I'm mild,

Maybe not, but maybe I'm the person that you've sought,

That can relate to what you have to say,

Maybe you should stop worrying about change,

And try to rearrange your own thoughts first,

But maybe, just maybe, you'll find that I don't want to be accepted,

Maybe I like having fear directed, my way,

Maybe I don't mind being neglected, per se,

Maybe I don't want to be dissected, and don't want to be affected, by the mainstream,

Maybe I know that fishermen always go to that river,

And maybe I don't want to get caught,

So thanks for inviting me to the mainstream, but I'll take the rapids and the waterfall,

And swim without a bathing suit while I'm at it,

Old man.

Gabe's Bio (return to top)

Age: 14
From: Berkeley
Poem: "Not Every Teen"

"Poetry is important to me because it gives me a chance to express myself without people not grudging. I can say how I feel at a certain time and people would accept it.

"I don't like to separate teens from adults, so if I had a specific message for adults, it'd be that I'd like adults to look at teens as people and treat teenagers as equals.

"My message for youths is 'respect'—show a little more respect for adults. Enjoy your youth, but realize what you do. You can't blame your parents for everything you do."

It was only several months ago that this teen from the Bay Area found himself competing in the 2001 National Poetry Slam after being inspired by an assembly on youth poetry at his high school. Along with voicing his views with the Youth Speaks poetry workshops in San Francisco, Gabe enjoys playing baseball and the violin.