I Only Want to Be Me

April 29, 2024

I sculpted this mask
Carved and decorated it
Slaved over every detail
Then I wore it around other people
And they all loved me

I was always hopeful
Happy and kind
Lighting up everyone's lives
That's who I am
But not all the time

The real me
cries and cowers
needs love and affection
gets worked up, talks too fast, slips up
Most of all
She's not perfect

That's the real me
I'm tired of meeting their expectations
I don't want to wear this mask anymore
I only want to be me