Note: Finished writing in June 2017

Teenhood and Emotions Don’t Mix

By Zac Langridge

Swirling in your brain

Encased in your head

A treasure chest of strange invisible things

That we call emotions

As a teenager

We feel rather strange

When it comes to our emotions

One moment we’re glad

The next we’re sad

It’s hard to describe

Just what we feel

As our thoughts swirl around

Like water in a washing machine

Not stopping and relentless

A nightmare

Sometimes we’re happy

And we’ve never felt better

A golden feeling of comfort

And enjoyment and pleasure

That’s hard to explain

But it’s makes you feel safe

And comfortable in the world

But five minutes later

That can change with a single sentence

Where you feel bitter emotions

Like anger, and depression and envy

Where you want to make people understand

That you’re not happy

No matter the consequences

It’s all very confusing

Being a teenager

As you cheer and laugh and grin

Or brood and snarl and sob

You’re emotions churning up

Like an uncontrollable witches’ brew

Which can sometimes love or hate you

It’s an interesting experience

Having feelings like this

When you’re calm and collected

And feel your own version of peace

Or when you’re seething with hatred

And you find some enjoyment out of it

It’s a queer experience being a teen

As when you’re a child or adult

It seems so black and white

Life determined by events and phrases

But when you’re a teenager

A single stray word will set you off

What I’m saying

Is that puberty and emotions don’t mix

Being a teenager is confusing and sometimes awful

And I sometimes can’t wait for it to be over

But other times it’s fine

And I don’t want anything to change

Everyone says we’re lucky to be teens

However I mostly disagree

I’d sometimes rather have a job and be an adult sooner

Then be looked down upon

And have the world spinning around me

With harsh reality twisting my mind into a pretzel

A never ending one

From which I feel no escapism sometimes

It won’t last forever

And I know that I’m getting older

But sometimes I appreciate this mess

And I want it to stay

But you see, I’ve made my point

Because my opinion is really mixed

But I mostly believe that

Emotions and teenhood are an awful mix

And I’m glad it’s good and bad