“Normal” is a poem that I wrote when I became frustrated with how people act in public. I was at school, watching how everyone walked with their head down, shoulders hunched, hands stuffed in their pockets. Whenever anyone held a door open for me or smiled at me, it made my day, because often I felt unnoticed and unimportant, almost unwanted. I think many people hide loneliness like this, acting “normal” like everyone else, but inside just wishing that a stranger would do anything, even smile, to let them know that they are not alone.
Normal
The standard walk,
The standard talk,
Head down,
Eyes low,
Words short,
Words clipped,
Mouth downturned,
Frown fixed.
Acknowledge no one
But yourself
Or else,
Or else.
This is normal,
And normal
You will be.
But when the rebel
Grins,
You’d be surprised
Who smiles
Back.