A Poem Inspired by Sheri Hostetler's
 "Not of This World"

(Click here for text of Hostetler's poem.)

Mennonite Teen 

I am like anyone else. You probably couldn't identify
me in a crowd of Non-Mennos. I'm all
Atkins diet and blowout sales. I want to emulate
fertile fields, head coverings, memories of martyrdom,
like yesterday, hymns without organ. But
when it comes down to it, my Bible 
collects dust on the bookshelf.

And my memories collect dust too. Generation Y. I
go to church every Sunday and sing from the Blue Hymnal,
smiling at how great it feels to have this special
heritage. Tomorrow morning I wake up and blow-dry my
hair, which has been cut short because that's what Cosmo said
looks the best with my face shape. I put in my contacts, slip on
my cutest pair of shoes, skip breakfast for more than one reason,
and drive to school. Ancestors that refused to dance don't cross my mind
once.

I am exactly like you. I talk like you, laugh 
like you, eat like you, love like you. I will even die
like you. And my picture won't be etched into the Martyr's Mirror.
I will go to Heaven like you.

Libby Glover
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