Never Good Enough

• Mohammed Baki, Grade 6
• Poetry
• 2021

When I speak with my friends, others tell me I talk too much.
Yet when I go quiet, I’m told to speak up.
I get mocked for being skinny, “You look like you never ate!”
But when they see me eating, they say I look overweight.
When I don’t hit back, I’m told I am not strong enough.
But then when I do, they say I’m ‘too rough’.
“You can never be an athlete, you are way too short!”
But they start making excuses when I beat them in sport.
Whenever I succeed at school, they tell me I’m a nerd.
But then call me ‘dumb’ when I don’t try, isn’t that absurd?
They told me I suck at Fortnite, that I don’t know how to aim.
But proceed to call me a try hard after I win a game.
I’m not considered good enough by many people around me.
But I like the person I am, and I don’t care if they disagree.
Unfortunately, in life, you cannot please everyone.
Other than yourself, you should choose to gratify none.