I Am Not How I Seem - By: Francesca Bruno

I wonder why I act like I do,

I hear the voices of whispering angels,

I see loving hands reaching towards me,

I want to let them lift me up,

I am not how I seem.

I pretend that I am alone in the woods,

I feel the grass beneath my feet,

I touch the bark of the tall standing trees,

I worry about the earth,

I cry about those who I have lost,

I am not how I seem.

I understand that I am not perfect,

I say that I am fine,

I dream that I am free,

I try to make myself a better person,

I hope that I succeed,

I am not how I seem.

Please give a detailed explanation about the meaning and main idea of this poem.:

I wanted to express how chaotic my mind can be sometimes, and when it gets overwhelming I have the urge to go and run away and be with nature. I also wanted to talk about how sometimes people may underestimate you or judge you for little to no information which I find very stressful and hurtful. I also wanted to express my worry about the environment and how I see it changing over time.

Please explain your writing and thought process regarding this poem.:

One of my art assignments was to write a poem and to illustrate it somehow. I didn't start with any particular idea, so I just expressed myself, and I was very happy with the result of my expression.

Why did you choose to write this poem?:

I chose to write this to show others that everyone has their own story, and that you shouldn't judge people based on how they seem.

Do you have any tips or anything to share with the youth writers who may be reading this?: Don't be afraid to express yourself!