Home
Young Writers Project

Search form

  • Login
  • DONATE
  • CREATE
    • RECENT POSTS
    • THE DAILY READ
    • RECENT VISUAL ART
  • COMMUNITY
    • TINY WRITES
    • ARTSPACE
    • BOOK CLUB
    • WINTER READS!
    • YWP MENTORS
    • YWP ALUMNI ADVISORS
  • CHALLENGES
    • TEENAGER: A writing and visual art contest!
    • WEEKLY CHALLENGES 22-23
    • JOURNALISM CHALLENGES
      • Journalism Project Info
    • THE GREAT ARTISTS CHALLENGE
    • ARTSPACE CHALLENGES
    • THE GREAT POETS CHALLENGE
    • CHALLENGES BANK
    • YWP RESOURCES
    • Weybridge Haiku Contest
  • PUBLICATIONS
    • THE VOICE
    • ANTHOLOGIES
      • ANTHOLOGY 13 VIDEO
    • MEDIA PARTNERS
    • SPECIAL ISSUES: The ELM 2021-22
      • The ELM 2020-21
      • The ELM 2019-20
    • YWP NEWSLETTER
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT YWP
    • QUICK FAQs
    • HOW THE SITE WORKS
    • RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
    • ANNUAL REPORT 21-22
    • PERMISSION FORM
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS OF USE
    • CONTACT US
  • Donate
  • LOG IN/JOIN
Previous Post
Next Post
Feb 15
poem
Kittykatruff's picture
Kittykatruff

99.9th percentile

Being tall means that I grew 5 inches higher than the doctor predicted.
Being tall means that it’s hard to find pants that reach my ankles.
    *Please let me know if you know of dress pants with an inseam over 32 inches
Being tall means turning heads, being noticed, and small children gasping in awe.
Being tall means being told you should model at age 13.

Being tall means that you don’t always love being tall.

Being tall means that I have been laughed at.
Being tall means similes likes “Giraffe” and “Tree” and “Giant.”
Being tall means boys feeling “threatened.”
    *No, I wouldn’t give you some of my height, even if I could.
Being tall means rarely seeing girls like you onscreen.
    Since when does the treasured ingenue, the standing-ovation leading lady,
    tower over her male counterpart?
Being tall seemed like the death of an acting career.
    So, so young, so, so passionate, and so, so impressionable.

Being tall means creating conversations in general.
    Conversations in which it seems I’m not always included.

But have they ever stopped to consider
That maybe “tall” means something else
To the girl who’s been graced
with it?

Being tall means I have a bigger heart to love with.
    *Let’s ignore biology for a second and focus on poetry.
Being tall means I was given a wingspan to soar
And fingertips that brush the sky;
I can grasp the stars.
Being tall means seeing the world from a perspective
    That few are born lucky enough to enjoy.

At the end of the day,
Yes, I’m tall.
Yes, I’m so much more.
No, for the thousandth time, I don’t play basketball or row for crew and I’m not interested in any other group sports. Sorry.
    (I appreciate that you think my coordination is capable of making it on the teams).

Being me means being tall.
Being me means being me.
And I’ve come to the conclusion
That being me
Is a blessing
of pretty epic proportions.

 
  • Kittykatruff's blog
  • Sprout
  • Log in or register to post comments
Posted: 02.15.22
Kittykatruff's picture
About the Author: Kittykatruff
I_Love_Poetry
MSG / CONTACT
RECENT LOVES
  • Best of the year, every year
  • Here to help
  • Cherish your youth
  • And We Wait
  • Happiness is Where the Food is
RECENT COMMENTS
  • I love your descriptions and
  • This is really lovely. Thank
  • Also, welcome to YWP!
  • I love this poem. It's a
  • I'm not joking about the

Other Posts

  • Anything
    You said you would give meAnythingto see me smile, Read more
    in poem 0 Comments
  • Battlefield
    *FictionAmber eyesmeet deep, stunning brown Read more
    in poem 0 Comments
  • today I want to write about Periwinkle
    My favorite color is periwinkle. Read more
    in opinion 1 Comment

Discussion

Comments

  1. yejunee
    Feb 15, 2022

    This was so lovely!

    Yejun Park

    • Log in or register to post comments
  1. Kittykatruff
    Feb 15, 2022

    Thank you!!

    I_Love_Poetry

    • Log in or register to post comments
  1. murious_w
    Feb 15, 2022

    Love this! As a fellow tall person, I relate!

    Murious

    • Log in or register to post comments
  1. Kittykatruff
    Feb 15, 2022

    Thank you, fellow tall person! :)

    I_Love_Poetry

    • Log in or register to post comments
  1. Kittykatruff
    Feb 15, 2022

    I'm not joking about the pants — clothing brand recommendations are always welcome!

    I_Love_Poetry

    • Log in or register to post comments
  • ABOUT
  • DONATE
  • PUBLICATIONS
  • SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER
  • JOIN/LOGIN
YWP is a creative, online community of teen writers and visual artists. We're based in Burlington, VT, and we welcome young creators from anywhere!
Young Writers Project | 47 Maple St., Suite 216 | Burlington, VT 05401
501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2006
Contact: Susan Reid, Executive Director: [email protected]; (802) 324-9538