The author of the poem ‘Not’, Erin Hanson, writes about what are the things that, in our opinion and point of view, define ourselves. He clearly says that we aren’t what we appear, but we are what makes us humans, like our ‘croaky morning voice and the smiles that we try to hide’.
I think that we all have insecurities, which are represented by demons. And to chase away those ones we must fight against them, until we are finally able to kick them out of our mind.
The fact is that we think about a ‘perfect model and lifestyle’ and we try to achieve it in every possible way, but, starting with the presupposition that each of us is different, if everyone begin to follow it and imitate it we lose our diversity, which is the most beautiful thing in this world, full of sad and cruel events.
One thing that humans don’t understand is that WE decide what we are defined by, not others. Everyone else, except ourselves, only can give us suggestions and advice, just these. We must have the force to make all these rumors that people say, slide over us and don’t let them change ourselves and the perception which we have of us. They are just rumors, don’t let them change into demons and believe in yourself, always and ever.
S. B. 3A
'Not' by Erin Hanson
You are not your age,
Not the size of clothes you wear,
You are not a weight,
Or the colour of your hair.
You are not your name,
Or the dimples in your cheeks,
You are all the books you read,
And all the words you speak,
You are your croaky morning voice,
And the smiles you try to hide,
You're the sweetness in your laughter,
And every tear you've cried,
You're the song you sing so loudly,
When you know you're all alone,
You're the places that you've been to,
And the one that you call home,
You're the things that you believe in,
And the people that you love,
You're the photos in your bedroom,
And the future you dream of,
You're made of so much beauty,
But it seems that you forgot,
When you decided that you were defined,
By all the things you're not.