Who Are You?
written by: Madeline Jones
“Who are you?” They ask
I know they want my name
My age
My gender
My hobbies
But I don’t feel that is me
Instead, I am the giggle of a small girl, and the chuckle of an old man
I am a ballerina, paused mid-air, and the frenzied dance of faeries
I am a wild, coursing river, and a small creek, merely a trickle
I am a scholar, and a young student
I am the high note of your favorite song, and the ending of the album
I am the sweet scent of a candle, and the scorched rug
I am the sun and the earth, and all of the empty space in between
I am your loyal dog, and its leftover remains in the street
I am the first kiss between lovers, and the final goodbye in a hospital
I am crazy, stuck up hair, and a neat slick back
I am a synonym and an antonym
I am a paradox, of sorts
I am everything, and I am nothing
My age, my gender, my hobbies, they are fluid
But my core is a duality
The coexistence of a beginning and an end
The coexistence of wild and tame
I don’t say this, though
I say
My name is Madeline
I am a teenager
I am a girl
I like soccer and poetry
One day, I will tell somebody
Somebody will understand my duality
But until then
I hope you understand, too
- Who Are You? - April 14, 2026
