Maddie Teitelman; “i didn’t want to like the smiths”

Artist Feature: Maddie Teitelman / Writing / Class of 2024

By Juliette AvRuskin

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“i didn’t want to like the smiths” by Maddie Teitelman

democracy looks like cigarette smoke and a baby in a stroller

because blurry realities are easier to fight for

indulging while saving the world to save ourselves

from another sleepless night of worry

at the end of the day, we're all a baby in a stroller

dragged along by forces we can't control

and at night we'll listen

to songs made by bad people.

all to help us fall asleep.

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Maddie Teitelman (any pronouns) is a current senior at St. Mary’s Academy. They wrote their poem “i didn’t want to like the smiths” in response to their feelings of nihilism in regards to the state of the world, and the climate crisis in particular. They stated that they “wrote it about youth activism and the people involved, because truly none of us are perfect.” Maddie mentions that their title comes from “the fact that I strongly dislike Morrissey because he represents so much of what I believe is wrong, and yet I find comfort in the music he created.” In light of this, Maddie reflects that “It’s sort of this cycle of having to find happiness in the little things, even if they aren’t productive for a cause.”

Maddie describes their creative process as “inspired by the world around me and what I’m feeling.” They said that they often begin a story with only one line, and build a whole story around it. This is what happened with “i didn’t want to like the smiths”: Maddie began with the opening line and built the poem from there. Maddie also draws inspiration from other poets, such as silas denver melvin. They add that the piece is inspired in part by the show The Good Place, in which the characters “discuss how it is impossible to make a 100% ethical choice because everything has consequences and we’re all just trying to do the best we can.”

Maddie Teitelman