Unknown Identity

By Rizouana Prome

Teenagers oftentimes don’t know themselves and are not well aware of their identity. This is a poem where I am exploring the different sides of my identity.

“What kind of person are you?”
A question I encounter as if it is
Rain during the rainy season
Too often to be avoided 

Sometimes 
I am a bear
Destined to be a loner 
Avoiding crowds
Addicted to my own company
Sometimes 
I am an ant
Surrounded by creatures 
With the same goal
Motivated to move forward

Sometimes 
I am an angry lion
Quick to make a move
Out hunting for opportunities
Sometimes 
I am a sloth
Unbothered and careless
Known for my slow speed
 
Sometimes 
I am a cat 
Calm and friendly 
Known for comforting people
Sometimes
I am a T-rex
Heartless and selfish
Hurting other organisms to fulfill my needs
Unconcerned about their feelings

Who am I?
Avoiding this question 
I am rather invested in
Which side of me is more acceptable?

Wanting to be liked by others 
Always wondering 
Which side makes me more approachable?
More desirable? 

Performance

Process

As I started high school and met different people, I noticed a change in my behavior depending on my circumstance. I was acting differently with different people for the sake of being liked by them. Gradually, it felt like I developed multiple personalities. This journey was the main source of motivation for this writing piece. I enjoy learning about animals and their characteristics and with the knowledge I had, I started to create metaphors that summed up my different personalities.