artwork in progress

 
how long was it...
after they started telling you who to be
pigeon-holing & guilt shaming
putting up roadblocks & detours
planting landmines in your path
trying to force you onto their road
...before you finally gave up
...
caving to their demands
settling into their assigned mediocrity
because standing out...
...felt like being a target
& that takes too much energy
bullshit words spoken
eventually taken on board
as reality
...
one child encouraged
follow your wildest dreams
if you dream it
you can achieve it
another of equal intelligence & ability
told not to aim too high
be realistic
it's out of your league
stand them side by side
could be the same child
but for the support at their backs
determined by circumstances
& the resources one lacks
so it begins...
undermining of confidence
...
don't bother me right now
I'm doing something important
message received...
...I'm a bother
& everything's more important than me
the nibbles & bites
take chunks from the ground under our feet
until it crumbles
throwing us down
do you remember when it started
that first pebble pulled out from under
how you felt hobbled & wobbled
until you toppled
...
more to the point..
...when did you decide
I've had enough
turning your attention
to your own reinvention