I wasn’t a bad kid.
Just one of the curious ones
with a stubborn streak.

Had to discover everything
on my own terms.
Challenging adult prerogative.

The words because I said so
meant little to me.
I was that mad scientist kid

who created her own lab.
Always asking too many questions
at the wrong time.

Unconsciously committed to challenging
whoever, wherever, testing boundaries,
a little rebel, big rebel attitude.

Pointing out contradictions,
asking questions adults couldn’t answer
to my satisfaction.

 

Janet Cormier is a painter, writes prose and poetry, and performs comedy. Janet prefers different and original over pretty. She loves collecting stuff, but cleaning not so much. Janet also talks to strangers. A lot. Her column appears weekly on Oddball Magazine.