Sunlight Scars | Teen Ink

Sunlight Scars

June 11, 2014
By Austin Cao BRONZE, Mequon, Wisconsin
Austin Cao BRONZE, Mequon, Wisconsin
2 articles 0 photos 0 comments

I was told of a time when I would feel small
when the birds fly past me with intention
when the grass feels sharper between my toes
I can’t shake the feeling that we are all alone

the strangest thing is that the people are different
bigger, in all definitions of the word
those horn-rimmed glasses and baby-blue Sperrys
scream at the top of their lungs this narrative about New York

but my fork is made in China and my spoon is only 4% silver
my virgin liver shrugs again because
I’m sitting in the typical American dorm
thinking about the pretentiousness that’s seeping under the door

the texture of a basketball blisters my hands
and the sands of time spill into neat categories
by my own making, things that are important/relevant/applicable
I never took the phrase “ignorance is bliss” seriously

when 7 weeks have run across the back of my head
when I learn that evolution dictates humans to be social creatures
when I feel the blood that’s been staining my soles this whole time but
when I scoff and sigh and lie there and I finally
see the irony— it hurts


The author's comments:
I wrote this after attending a summer program that complete changed my life perspective and how I interact with others. The experience of being away from home and meeting new people can be terrifying. But ultimately, it can be both thrilling and incredibly rewarding. Indeed, you might just learn a thing or two about yourself.

Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 0 comments.