I'm Happy You're Mediocre

Poetry be me, images from Pinterest

The only child from a lonely home, 
I’m happy you’re mediocre. 
All wrapped up in your purity culture, 
I’m happy you're mediocre. 
Everything came easy to you, 
Your subjects in school, 
Big fish in a small pond, 
You are the best of the best, 
Excelling in your gene pool. 
You were so spoiled they called you gifted, 
Lavished attention on your achievements, 
You think you know better than everyone now. 
With no one to challenge you, you sank to the bottom
In this sink-or-swim world. 
The human trait of learning never applied, 
So I’m happy you are mediocre now 
That you have to observe, you have to try. 
I would have been just fine
I would have cheered for your success
Except you tried to drown everyone else
Who, through hard work, learned to swim, 
Learned to sprint through their pain 
And in their head say
One more lap, one more length, 
Even when their muscles shake. 
I’m happy you’re mediocre, 
I hope you sink lower, 
For how low you made me feel
Before I knew anything at all and 
Even after I was accomplished 
When I could tread water for long periods. 
I’m happy you are mediocre. 
I like watching you struggle to swim. 
I came to enjoy you ignoring my help
After I gave you a lifejacket and instructions. 
Which you claimed would be socially stunted. 
I intially had to disregard the initial sting, 
Because now not only did I know how to swim- 
I always know your next course of action. 
Of course, you will always reject my life ring
Complain until water enters your mouth
That the current should be calmer, 
And that it used to be easier, 
I’m so happy you’re mediocre. 

Hello everyone! I’m so grateful you are reading. I just wanted to say some words after you read this poem- this poem sums up my feelings about a very specific kind of person who is labelled as smart or gifted at a young age, but instead of using that smartness emotionally, they purposely make everything competitive, and put people down. It may be that they even try to do this to people who are smarter than them. This poem also expresses some of my frustration towards the ‘tragic gifted burnout’ narrative. I think this narrative has problems because it takes away the burnt-out former gifted kid’s agency when there is a real opportunity to show softness and care. I was never gifted myself, but even up to the highest levels of school, I can see this mindset, and it’s very tiring. Lmk your thoughts in the comments!