I Yearned To Be A Doctor
A Ballerina, Perhaps An Astronaut
Each Year As I Age
It's Much Harder Than I Thought
I Feel My Chest Slowly Grow
My Face Is Getting Bumpy
The Boys Stare And The Girls Snicker
What's Wrong With Me?
I Should Be Careful With What I Eat
My Stomach Is A Little Round
Writing My Calorie Intake
Hoping I'd Lose More Than A Pound
Waking Up Before The Sun
I Lazily Put On A Hoodie And Sweats
The Teachers Scold Me For My Performance
The Day Never Ends
Thousands Of Dollars In Debt
I Can't Buy Myself A Home
Working More On Job Applications
There’s Never A Ring On My Phone
I Can Never Have Children
The Money Is Always Tight
Hear Our Cries When We Yell
"The Kids Aren't Alright!"
-
Author:
Novaselic (
Offline) - Published: October 23rd, 2026 11:15
- Comment from author about the poem: Being an adult isn’t easy, but for my generation and I, we grew up in the worst time to be adults. We can’t afford homes and some have to stay with their parents, we struggle to get a response after submitting countless of job applications. Some of us don’t want children because we can barely afford to take care of ourselves and we don’t want that for our kids so the dreams of becoming parents may not be possible. Everyone is struggling and simply being told as a response “welcome to being an adult.” No one should live this way. This is just my personal opinion. Edit: Hi, I just wanted to say I hope my message didn’t come off the wrong way. In a way it meant that over time, the ability to live, especially financially, has been getting worse overtime to the point housing prices are too high than they should be and groceries aren’t affordable. Of course it’s not just my generation, everyone in this time is struggling to survive. This poem is more personal to me and I hope I didn’t offend anyone.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 17
- Users favorite of this poem: sorenbarrett, Fränz Müller
Offline)
Comments5
A lovely poem of desperation and depression at what looks like an insurmountable task of climbing out of a financial hole. Although this generation feels that this curse is theirs it has been there for each generation of the past that have tackled it in different ways. My father grew up in the depression and through school and work and war made his way to middle class, I worked about every type of work imaginable through school and by the time my kids that at times had little to eat had grown had made it to the top. Your poem is compelling and that is what poetry does grabs people by the emotions. Very nicely done. A fave
thank you lots. i’m very sorry of your families struggles, it’s such a shame the amount of work and length everyone has to go through just to survive in this world. I wish you and your family the best in these times, and one day the struggle to live will end for all of the generations
It was my pleasure. There is no need for feeling sorry as I see it struggles are what make a person stronger and I wouldn't give any of them up. You are very kind and I wish you the best in your endeavors in life
This poem is very good and so real. I think you captured what it's like growing up in this economy very well and trying to simply live seems impossible..really great write!
That’s exactly what I was going for lol. Thank you lots for your comment :))
You are speaking a hard truth that nobody wants to hear, but the truth is rarely easy or welcome. I for one welcome truth rather than smooth lies that keep us in darkness. I may be (ahem) a few decades ahead of you but know that we’re struggling too, but we’re all in this together!
I hope my message didn’t come across the wrong way for anyone, I had much annoyance in my writing how this cycle of struggle to survive continues and is getting worse through each generation. I appreciate your comment and I agree that we’re all in this together and hopefully comes a day where we all can live with roofs over our heads and livable wages, wishing the best :))
Your poem is amazing and personally I love it! Looking forward to reading more of your writing.
such a powerful representation of the human experience right now… your explanation also highlights being an adult but i love how that contrasts with your last line… we’re all kids no matter the age and no one in the world deserves to suffer. Beautiful job!
Thank you for your comment :)) Everyone should live their life to the fullest, I find this poem to be more personal.
There’s a painful progression here from childhood dreams through the bruising realities of adolescence and adulthood, where body image, exhaustion, debt, and an uncertain future gradually crowd out the possibilities that once seemed endless. “The Kids Aren't Alright!” is the keeper for me, because that final cry turns one person’s disappointments into something larger, a generation’s fear that despite doing what they were told, the life they were promised may still be slipping out of reach.
That is very true. I feel even as an adult there is an inner child yelling out because this isn’t the future they hope for. But one day, things will change for the better for everyone, but only time will tell. Thanks for your comment, very appreciated and real :))
To be able to comment and rate this poem, you must be registered. Register here or if you are already registered, login here.