Dear World

It's hard,

so hard,

to endure this life,

this up and down merry-go-round.

Few ups

more downs:

ground down

pushed down

stamped down

told stay down

don't fight

don't express who you are

don't show how you feel

don't be yourself.

Fit in

be the same

be safe

be tame.

Tamed.

The wild inside

wants out

wants to be free

to shout

THIS IS ME!

Rise up

speak up

stand up

to you, World,

speak my truth

say this is what I think

this is how I feel

this is who I am!

But I shrink.

I see me standing proud -

and then I fear

because I know

you will reject me

ground me down

say we don't care

about your dreams

your vision

your version of you

you want to be.

Stay down

stay normal

stay in your place.

Down is not my place.

My place is up.

Time's up for being down

time to dig down deep inside

and pull myself up

into the light

push past resistance

from within and without

and grow

thrive

thrust up

into my own radiance.

It is time to be free.

Dear World,

I am here.

Sincerely,

Me