Differences Poem by Maya Reid

It funny how the world works
How there’s you and there’s me and there’s this place that we’re in
But there’s no we
And I’m beginning to think it could never be
That you and I are trapped forever as separate entities
Even though this place brought us together
Through hard work and luck and…fate?
I’m starting to see that there will never be
Anything more than a hug, a smile, a somewhat longing stare
And the knowledge that, if things were different,
Things might be different.
It’s a shame how this world works
How things as inconsequential as mere differences of opinion
Can make such a difference
Can alter the course of our days, our weeks
Our very lives
They say that opposites attract
And yet society almost forces you to find someone who’s virtually the same
The same in all the important ways
The ways that matter to our parents, and to society
When did we stop shaping our ideals
And become shaped by them?
Why are we too cowardly to defy the world’s preset patterns
And carve out our own lives?
Must we forever be content with a hug, a smile, a somewhat longing stare
And a sad nostalgic idea of what could have been there?
I’ve been down that road before
It’s not enough…I need more
You and I, we’re a beautiful idea
A dream I’ll remember fondly in the days ahead
But that now I have to force out of my head
Don’t worry: you’ll still get a hug and a smile
But my longing stares now belong to that boy over there…