Theme for English 131

Hey y'all,
The following is a poem I wrote for my English class. It is a spin-off of the Langston Hughes Poem "Theme for English B."

Theme for English 131

I grew up as a “Ball of Confusion” (The Temptations)
Confused by the words spoken by the “He Say, She Say” (Lupe Fiasco)
You say WHAT about me?
I am just trying to get my own- understand life
But I don’t understand the criticism
Maybe you should just leave me alone and do your own

To have a dream- do you know what that means?
Sometimes “I WONDER if you know what it means to find your dreams come true” (Kanye West)
To fight and hold on to one thing- in the slight chance that tomorrow will be a better day
Filled with a little bit more laughter, a little more metaphorical sunshine on the gloomy day
But when I hear criticism about being DIFFERENT- about me, we, her, him, they
About belonging to this, dressing like that, doing that instead of this,
I find it easy to throw it into disregard.
Just let me be.
I’ve come to understand the man who once said “Ignorance is Bliss”
Yet there is this insatiable feeling to correct the ills
Before you shut down more dreams and drain the positivity of those around you
Ignorant I am not. Turn my head I do not. Change what I like to do I will not.

I like reading…about many things
I like watching movies-Perspective
I like giving big hugs-Love all around
I like listening to music- all genres
I like kicking it with all kinds of people that possess positive intentions likewise
And,
I do not enjoy the negative energy you bring
I do not enjoy the two cents you have to offer about doing it your way or the highway,
Forcing me to think in your terms
I do not care to judge on what’s wrong
But to focus on what’s right
Bring me what’s light!

But with regards to the existence of the uncalled type of criticism- maybe that’s just the way it is
People constantly blasting others on their flaws- most times out of insecurity
& I won’t say that I haven’t done it too
But I am merely advocating you to undo
This scrutiny and cold-blooded name bashing, words clashing,
Literal and metaphorical fists thrashing, uniqueness rationing
And I am just like so many of my peers who have dealt with the same
Who 2 exhibit this yearning for freedom of EXPRESSION
Without judgment and thought’s recession
A society where people are valued by the beauty of their mind- positive intentions
Now all I am asking you is to let me be. LET ME BE.
You do you and I do me.