strength

i do not know my strength
nor see myself as other people do
i can not be all things
to others or please all for
the sake of keeping peace

death will come swiftly
when everyone wants a piece of me
and there is not enough
of me to go around
my strength slowly depletes

i turn a deaf ear to the men
whose own ears ignored my pleas
forgiving them a given
though forgetting so difficult
i release those that built this prison

i have never known my strength
to endure the unspeakable
giving life my all to
those who would just as soon
see me fall from lack of breath