I Grew Up with City Lights

I grew up with city lights all around me,

I grew up with people surrounding,

I grew up with cement sidewalks and paved roads.



Here you sit boasting your small town superiority,

While you criticize me for being vain,

You criticize me for being convoluted in my ways.



You say you grew up where everyone cares about people,

Yet you complain about your neighbors.

You tell me that you value your privacy,

But you sit on the phone for hours gossiping.

You say small-towners don’t care about vanity,

Yet you still do your make up every morning.



Where I grew up I learned to treat people with respect,

Even if I didn’t agree with them.

Where I grew up I learned to stand up for what I believe in,

Because I have the right to an opinion.

Where I grew up I found people who liked me for me,

And weren’t just settling for what was there.



You say cities are dangerous because the people are corrupt.

After all we city-folk are all the same,

We all lie,

We all steal,

We all murder,

We all run rampant without morals or values.



Where do you get off?

Who are you to judge me?

Why are you better than me?



Is it because I grew up without dirt roads and dirt paths?

Is it because I grew up knowing too many people?

Is it because I grew up with no darkness?