The King of Concourse | Teen Ink

The King of Concourse

January 25, 2021
By aryisanxious BRONZE, Willshire, Ohio
aryisanxious BRONZE, Willshire, Ohio
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The unexamined life is not worth living."<br /> -Socrates


When I was just a little girl,

Wide-eyed & 3 feet tall,

My mother took me to my favorite place:

The Glenbrook shopping mall.


The mall itself was impossibly big,

The lights were incredibly bright.

My littlegirlheart could not be calmed.

It was filled to the brim with delight.


I picked a tiara from Libby Lou’s

& a plush Hello Kitty from Claire’s.

I wanted to look inside Spencer’s, but

My mom wouldn’t let me go in there.


I felt like a tiny princess

While my mom had some buyer’s remorse.

But my high and mighty attitude changed

When in walked the King of Concourse.


The mighty King ambled toward us,

His head high above all the crowds,

With a Manic Panic purple mohawk

That he wore on his head like a crown.


The big, black boots strapped to his legs

Proved that he ruled this domain.

& every time that the King took a step,

I heard the jingle of his royal wallet chain.


My big, brown eyes filled with wonder.

I had never seen someone so cool!

So I asked my mom a thousand questions

To see if I, like the king, could rule.


“What is the name of his style?

Do you think I could dress like him too?”

My mom told me, “Nana, be whatever you want

As long as you’re just being you.”


I made my mom’s words my new mantra

(Much to my family’s dismay),

& I thank the great King of Concourse

For inspiring the weird girl I am today.


The author's comments:

This piece is based on true events that really shaped me into the person I am now. I saw a punk man with a purple mohawk and something about his odd style really resonated with me and opened my mind up to the idea that I didn't have to dress like everyone else. I've been super into alternative styles and subcultures ever since.


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This article has 1 comment.


on Feb. 12 2021 at 9:12 am
Pravartika_23 BRONZE, New Delhi, Other
3 articles 0 photos 3 comments
This is such a smoothly presented and relatable poem! I feel the same way about my attire, my interests, my tastes. I used to feel uncomfortable that I’m a misfit with my silly love of switching to weird hairstyles and all... but I’ve learnt a lot about self love lately. Half of my poems revolve around my love for my own weird self. When I read yours, I was so happy to find someone weird like me!! :)