The Rebel

When everybody has short hair, the rebel lets his hair grow long; when everyone has long hair, the rebel cuts his short.

The poem opens with hair: the rebel always chooses the opposite style from the majority.

When others talk during the lesson, the rebel stays silent; when others are silent, the rebel creates a disturbance.

In class behaviour too the rebel reverses the group mood - quiet when others talk, noisy when others are quiet.

When others wear fantastic clothes, the rebel wears sober clothes; when others are sober, the rebel dresses fantastically.

Fashion follows the same rule of opposition. Even pets differ - dogs when others prefer cats, cats when others prefer dogs.

When others go out in rain, the rebel wants sun; when others want sun, the rebel wishes for rain.

Weather wishes invert the crowd's desire, showing the rebel's contrarian spirit.

When everybody says Yes please, the rebel says No thank you; when everyone says No thank you, the rebel says Yes please.

Politeness itself becomes a field for reversal - the rebel refuses what others accept.

It is good to have rebels but not good to be one - they make a society richer by being different.

The last couplet balances admiration with caution: rebels add variety, yet constant opposition may not be desirable for oneself.