The Reader's Shouts

Grab a book, I disappear,

A thousand worlds are waiting here.

"Put it down!" I hear them say,

Like reading somehow ruins my day.

My brother barely reads a page,

But somehow I'm the one who gets the blame.

"Why can't you be more like him?" I bite my tongue and

count to ten.

(one, two, three, four...) I'M DONE!

Being told I'm never right,

I'M LOUD!

But nobody hears me tonight.

I didn't do it,

but I'm taking the fall,

Feels like somehow I'm always wrong.

So turn up the speakers,

let the whole world know—

These are the Reader's Shouts!

I'm told I read a little too much,

Like every story is some kind of crutch.

But books don't judge me,

books don't shout, They're the one place I can figure things out.

I try my best,

but it's never enough,

Every little mistake gets called out as tough.

I could do everything perfectly right,

And somehow still be the problem tonight.

I'M DONE! With the "you should be better" lines,

I'M LOUD! With these thoughts inside my mind.

I didn't do it,

but I'm taking the fall,

Why does it feel like I'm blamed for it all?

I've got a voice and I'm letting it show— These are the

Reader's Shouts!

Maybe I'm not wrong.

Maybe I'm just different.

Maybe loving books isn't something I should have to apologize for.

So let me read.

Let me dream. Let me be

more than what you see.

Because every page is a place to belong,

And every story makes me feel strong.

You can tell me I'm too much,

You can tell me I'm not enough— But I'm not putting down

this book.

I'M DONE! Trying to fit into your mold,

I'M LOUD! And I'm finally breaking through.

I didn't do it,

but I'm taking the fall— Well,

maybe I don't have to anymore.

Turn up the guitars!

Let the pages fly!

Let the whole house hear me tonight!

THE READER'S SHOUTS!

THE READER'S SHOUTS! THE READER'S SHOUTS! (yeah)

And if loving books makes me different...

Then I'll be different loud.