This is a poem I wrote when I was 14, in my freshman year of high school. It’s the first time I remember being taken over by words when writing poetry – they just poured out onto the page, without much conscious thought or effort on my part. It is, to this day, one of my favorite things I’ve ever written.

Who is out there?

Who is hiding my fears?

Who is out there?

Who is catching my tears?

They never dribble off my chin

Or drip onto my nose

They never slip slide down my cheeks

Or moisten my rough clothes

You wish your name was up on the marquee

But it’s not – and it never will be

I am the show’s producer, director, and star

You?

Nothing but an extra

You say you know the answer

But did I ask a question?

You say you know the way

But do I really need directions?