This is a poem I wrote in response to all the teenagers out there who try to act depressed to seem cool or draw attention. I understand many have real problems; at home, clinical depression, etc., but plenty of them have little or nothing to be depressed about.

You think you're different
When you are just the same.
You think you're being cool
When you're just très lame.
You think you're so deep
When you're totally shallow,
This "moody teen" act
Is too dumb to swallow.
You act all depressed
At the social events.
Your immature behavior
Just doesn't make sense.
You think that inside you
Your soul's waging a war,
When acting this way's
Your excuse to act sore.
You act as though you're
The first to feel pain.
What can I do to
Knock some sense in your brain?
Your mom yells at you,
You and your girlfriend broke up.
But your life will go on,
Please, lighten up!
You think that the world
Is so cruel to you.
"I've got two hours homework!
What will I do??"
You dress up in black
And mope all day long
Trust me when I say you're
Not first to sing this song.
Just get over whatever
It is troubling you
It can't be as bad
As the pain you never knew.
For in third world countries,
Children die everyday.
They have so little food;
In filthy water they play.
You will never know
How lucky you are
To have food, water, plumbing,
A computer, a car.
You have a family who loves you,
Friends who all care,
Public education,
A government that's fair.
You are so blessed
To live here today
Yet you still pull this act,
"Life's so hard!" you still say.
Just stop for a minute,
Take a look around,
Think openly, honestly,
Stop trying to be profound.
You'll realize you have
Little reason to be down.
Just dump this fake image,
And wipe off the forced frown.