Painted Expectations

Our expectations

Painted a picture

We never got quite right,

Brushstrokes outside the lines

Abstract design,

Never quite reaching the top

Of our canvas world,

A white line

Above the rest

That we still imagined

Painting with a beautiful scene

That we wished we could

Put our fingers on,

A world we wished

We could pull down

To our level,

A world to step into

Where right is right

And wrong is wrong,

The line of gray

No longer existing

Where appreciation

Is given in the same abundance

As criticism,

A world with as much beauty

As the current hate

We know-

A world where we aren’t afraid

To bring children,

Introduce them to elements

That humans control-

But alas

We have expectations for all

But not for ourselves-

As we destroy not only our homes

But one another,

Tearing dreams through mud

And cutting the legs

Off of our ‘friends’

As we wonder about our next move

And the next event

That will bring us closer

To that white patch

On our canvas-

The white patch

We can never achieve

Without the help

Of our fellows.

Keep painting,

But share the canvas

With the one beside you.

Katrina Thornley is a nature poet and novelist that resides in Rhode Island. She has two poetry collections currently published, a novel, as well as a short story anthology. Her poetry collections "Arcadians: Lullaby in Nature" and "Arcadians: Wooden Mystics" were inspired by a local park and life in her small rural town. You can find them on Amazon now!

Also, be sure to give her a follow on Instagram!