Author: yougetwhatyougetpoetry

You Get What You Get And You Don't Get Upset: Life is a journey that will take you places you never thought you would go. For the past year I have been writing about the challenges people face; some funny, some frustrating, and some that will make you cry. I would like to invite you along for the ride and hope that these poems can find a place in the world. If you like them, please pass them along.

Concentration

I find it hard to concentrate
Especially during math.
Six plus seven is…”wait, did you see
That squirrel running up the path?”

Six plus seven is…”Hi there John.
I like your shirt, I do.”
Oh, six plus seven is something.
Hold on. Ah, ah, ah, choo.

Once again now, six plus seven
Wow, this is hard for me.
“I wonder if after recess,
We’ll have a spelling bee?”

Six plus seven, then eight, nine, ten.
What did I hear you ask?
Six plus seven…I’ve no idea.
What a ridiculous task.

“You must concentrate, try harder.”
Well of course I’m hearing you.
Fact is, I am trying harder.
That’s all I ever do.

My mind jumps quickly, turns and spin.
I feel I’m quite a mess.
Six plus seven…Is it thirteen?
Calm down, that was just a guess.

 

 

 

 

Moodiness

At noon I’m yellin’ at my mom.
At one, a fight with dad.
My folks are getting so concerned
That I have turned out bad.

But then by two my mood is gone.
I’m pleasant as can be.
“I love you Mom” “Hey dad, you’re great.”
They gape and stare at me.

The teenage years are difficult.
Your moods have ebbs and flows.
You’re sweet and then you’re miserable.
That’s just the way it goes.

When I am acting horrible.
Seem like I’ve lost my way.
Just hang on tight, this too shall pass.
I’ll be grown up some day.

Anxiety

I can’t get out of the bedroom.
I can’t go through the door.
I can’t get out of the bedroom,
‘Till I count to thirty four.

It starts when I’m feeling anxious.
The numbers calm me some.
It helps when I’m counting to thirty four
If I also start to hum.

I’m humming and counting, then tapping my foot,
Gets added to the mix.
When anxiety gets the best of me
I use my routine to fix

These thoughts, they are always running
Round and round in my head.
Rather than focusing on these sounds
I do my routine instead.

So, counting and humming and tapping along
Thirty two, thirty three, thirty four.
As I get to the magic number
My hand’s moving toward the door.

And then I walk out to start my day
Taking my numbers along.
When I need them they’re always with me
Along with my humming song.

We all find ways to function
In this world that’s hectic and vast.
My numbers and humming help slow things down
When my mind is moving too fast.

Dresses

I just want to wear a nice dress to school
Now what is the problem with that?
Girls are allowed to wear pants every day,
And all kinds of kid wear a hat.

But adults have this thing about dresses.
Boys can’t wear them,  is what I’ve been told.
Who makes up these rules for who can do what?
What happens when people get old?

What is the reason that grown-ups are scared
When kids do not all act the same?
Could they be afraid of losing control?
Is order the name of the game?

I just want to wear a nice dress to school.
Chill out, I like to look dressy.
And people, a dress is not a big deal.
It’s the rest of life that is messy.

 

Wishing

Wish I was a singer, but I always sing off key.
Wish I was a model, but I’m only five foot three.
Wish I was a dancer, but I have two left feet.
Wish I could be happy with the people that I meet.

I wish I could stop wishin’ and just enjoy today.
Be happy now with what I’ve got and not wish time away.
It isn’t always easy to just be satisfied.
The trick’s to take things as they come and just enjoy the ride.