childish adults

sometimes i question myself—

why a 25-year-old man

is more emotionally intelligent

than people who have 25 years on his life?


you see,

they can be petty, childish, immature,

yet expect respect

because they have seniority,

because they share blood.


now that i’m standing head to head—

scratch that—

levels above the ground where adults hang,

i’m the highest in the room

no matter where i go.


now you see,

we can talk about respect.

it’s something i don’t neglect,

but respect will always have to be earned.

i will not bow because of experience.


maybe we acknowledge the elephant in the room:

by the age of 25,

i’ve become a mirror

that reflects exactly where you are in life—

and in comparison,

scratch that,

not even on the same altitude.


now you see,

it must be hard to swallow a truth like this.

i may sound arrogant,

and maybe i am.


but maybe that arrogance

is fueled by a higher demand,

the divine of command.


it’s hard to be humble

when puppets are being pulled by strings.


i’ve always been me.

it’s a truth—

it stings.


but don’t argue with me.


the gap between us

isn’t opinion—

it’s distance.


— Mr. Mak


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