Poems That I Form

Freak the Mighty

**The book "Freak the Mighty" by Rodman Philbrick is about a friendship that buds between a big kid who isn't quite the smartest(Max) and a smart kid who eventually, spoiler, dies in the book due to health problems(Kevin). My friend always compared me to Kevin in a joking matter, but when I read the book, I was ready to die as well. He really helped me out, and I can't wait to see him soon."

In seventh grade,
Ms. Dressler gave us "Freak the Mighty"
to read.
It was particularly difficult,
It was a seventh-grade curriculum book
With a traumatic ending and the usual fanfare around it.
It didn't gain a fandom around it like "The Outsiders",
Where young Rob Lowe made people's hearts burst.

But it's my favorite.

I had this best friend,
Tall,
Sweet,
Strong.
He's like a same-age brother who
Knew how to push my buttons
But knew when I needed my space.
We joked and laughed and smiled
And cried and vented and everything in between.

I started starving myself.
I was pale and sickly and pathetic.
He was in several sports and tan and strong.
I never hated him or was jealous of how he handled
Dreadful, awful Middle School.

We finished the book.
I told him,
"I guess I'm Freak and you're the Mighty, right?"
He gave me a bunch of piggybacks after that.
I felt much taller having him by my side,
Even though I was definitely a molehill next to a mountain.

We stopped talking,
Not of hatred or uncomfortable talk,
But because we simply didn't keep up with one another.
I joined theatre and became horribly intertwined
In an awful community.
He joined football and I heard he was one of the best.

I'm back to being sickly and pathetic,
I've always been as pale as paper.
I live at home instead of at school,
Where I should be. 

He lives around here.

I asked him if we can hang out again.

We're Freak the Mighty, after all.

And I'm not dying yet.