To Be Someone I Was

To be a hard worker

for my mom who has only ever

known to work hard.

To be a straight A

student, for my dad who

expects me to reach for A+

just like him. To be a

friend of consistency and

joy for my friends who

i only see when the straight A’s are done. To be

A sister to confide in and the girl that she can

share a million laughs instead of frowns

with.

To be a best friend who lends her shoulder out

for E to cry on---

for K and C to lean on me instead of a boy who toys with

her heart

To be someone who appreciates the rain instead of curling up in

my room all day, waiting for rays of sunshine to appear

To be someone who appreciates the way life goes

and learning to understand that it happens on its own

To be someone who takes charge of themselves

To be myself, a person who strives towards real goals and

wakes up in the morning and makes themselves a cup of tea

instead of waking up with dark circles

under my eyes

To be someone who doesn’t miss him

and someone who is free from

this world

and someone who lives for themselves.

Diya Chaudhary, 2024

Poetry