Eyes scanning a crowded cafeteria,
the teen searches for like minds.
Middle school,
a harsh proving ground.
If only the anxious teen
would allow a glimmer
of true self
to escape through the growing cracks.
The light might illuminate a path.
But,
Social media, group dynamics, uncertainty
make the youth wary.
Please
let them be welcoming,
let them be unguarded,
let them be empathetic,
let them be open
to connections that might ease
the knot growing tighter
at the core
of every,
single
one of them.
*Poet Kei Miller, in his poem “Genesis”, wonders about a book filled with the word “let” . I imagine a world where “let” opens the door to the authentic self.
A Reading Life 
You have described middle school angst so perfectly, and your “please let…” statements provide strong suggestions for getting through. I will share this with my soon-to-be middle school granddaughter and hope the “lets” help her along the way.
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Middle school angst is captured in this slice with grace and hope.
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The middle school cafeteria is not for the faint of heart. May your student find their people! The “let them” refrain reads like a prayer.
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