What Is A Box | Teen Ink

What Is A Box

April 10, 2021
By Anonymous


What is a Box.

Is it something you put clothes into.

Is it something you use to keep things hidden.

Is it something you keep memories in.

What is a Box.


To me I see something that can make or break you.

I see the box on a website that asks you what race you are.

What if you are more than one thing.

Who can say what box you properly fit into.


I see the box on the form you fill out at the doctors office,

the one that asks what you identify as.

What if you're figuring that out.

Why can’t you just be yourself.


I see the box on applications that asks what religion you are.

What if you believe in more than one thing,

but nothing at all.

Why is that important.


I see the box that I have been put in.

My box tells me that since I’m “white” I will achieve great things.

My box tells me that I will be just another girl.

My box tells me that I won’t matter.

My box feeds me the lies.

Lies that I wish I could put into their own box.


If you look deep down,

you'll see everything is put into boxes.

You can check A check B, but where is check C.

Why can’t there be an option for the people who just want to be.


What do the people who don't fit in the box do.

Do they pretend.

Do they hope to fit the box one day.

Do they hide the pain,

because they don't have a box of their own.


Where do the people who don’t want to have a box check.

Do they create their own box.

Do they keep checking A or B when all they are is C.

Do they forget about the box.


But what really is a box.

A place to hide in the shadows.

A thing to stand behind,

because you don’t want to be the odd one out.

A false sense of security.


Can you go without having a box.

Do you need a box to be happy.

Is a box so important.

Why is there a need for people to want to fit in with the box.

Why not say “f*ck it” and be free.


The answer is simple.

We all want to belong.

We want a home.

And a box can be that home.


You see all types of boxes.

Boxes that are hidden.

Hidden behind a mask.

Boxes that are created with a facade.


How do you define the box your in.

Is it defined as where you belong.

Is it defined as the place you don’t belong.

Check A check B, what about C.


The author's comments:

I wrote this because I saw the divide that one box can create. I understand how it feels not to have a box. I hope this poem can help someone who doesn't have a box either.


Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 1 comment.


on Dec. 9 2021 at 12:20 pm
smaddie24 PLATINUM, Cityland, Wisconsin
28 articles 0 photos 27 comments

Favorite Quote:
“Light shines brightest in the deepest dark!”
-Jim Butcher

Wow, this is a really powerful message. In this stupid society, we are all forced into a "box" and that is who we are. If we're Black, we're Black, and that's all we'll ever be. If we're White, then we're White. We are categorized by the boxes that we are continuously forced into, because everyone has a "place" and there they must stay.