What Are You Famous For?

Written by Alexis

If someone were to come up to you and tell you that you were going to be on Good Morning America tomorrow morning- what would it be for? What would you be on national TV for?

Last week, my English teacher told us in class that we were to write a poem on what we wanted to be famous for- would we be the pro-football quarterback on the back of milk cartons, or creepy next door neighbor with twelve cats? Would we be the pop superstar that you hear all over the radio, or the teenage checkout lady who won't stop smacking her spearmint bubble gum?

The minute she said to start, I looked around the classroom, and I could practically hear half of the people's thoughts either screaming "SUPERSTAR! SUPERSTAR!" or "QUARTERBACK! QUARTERBACK!" This assignment really got me thinking- this is so pointless because everyone wants to be in the public eye, or be recognized in some way. But, if we are all being honest- how many of us are going to be the next pop icon or pro football player? Seriously, if all of us were famous- the word famous wouldn't have the same value as it does.

Instead of writing about being a world known author- I wrote about being famous in my own way, right now. Being that person who always smiles at anyone who crosses their path. Who loves the people who love you the most. Who waves at the person with the frown on their face. Writing this poem made me realize that being famous doesn't mean everyone has to know your name, it just means that you made a difference in someones life.

So here is my poem, what I am famous for. What about you?

A Smile, a Kiss, a Wave
by Alexis Szoke

A smile,
A simple smile,
A simple smile smiling,
A simple smile smiling for the sake of simply smiling.

A kiss,
A gentle kiss,
A gentle kiss blown,
A gentle kiss blown to a desperate nobody across the room.

A wave,
A distant wave,
A distant wave traveling,
A distant wave traveling into the heart of the solemn sulker across the street.

That smile,
That simple smile,
That simple smile smiling,
That simple smile smiling back at the person who simply smiled forth.

That kiss,
That gentle kiss,
That gentle kiss touching,
That gentle kiss touching the face of a shy faced school girl sitting across the room.

That wave,
That silent wave,
That silent wave noticed,
That silent wave noticed by the solemn sulker waving back.