Have you noticed — a poem
Contestant: Shoshana Stern is a 17-year-old student at Sycamore High School in Cincinnati. Image by Courtesy of Shoshana Stern
Editor’s Note: The Forward is featuring essays, poems and short stories written for our Young Writers Contest. Today’s entry was written by Shoshana Stern, a 17-year-old student at Sycamore High School in Cincinnati. You can find more work from our young writers here.
Have you noticed
“This is a free country”
Has turned from
A prideful statement into
A defensive justification
“This is a free country”
Morphs freedom of speech
Into “I can say whatever I want”
Regardless of who it may mislead
Regardless of who it may hurt
“This is a free country”
Spins the right to bear arms
Into “I can buy an assault rifle”
Regardless of their training
Regardless of their background
“This is a free country”
Changes the wage gap
Into “I pay what I think you earn”
Regardless of progress reports
Regardless of personal bias
“This is a free country”
Whisks walking down the street
Into “Damn girl, why don’t you smile”
Regardless of what she wears
Regardless of whether she “asked for it”
“This is a free country”
Modifies freedom of press
Into “If you don’t look like this, you’re ugly”
Regardless of realistic expectations
Regardless of mental health
Have you noticed
“This is a free country”
Has turned from
A proclamation of independence into
A pitiful excuse
Because I have
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