the burning fire has settled around my fear
but they say, ‘wipe the tears from my eyes
be brave and stand up straight
don’t cower, don’t flinch
fight, be mighty and strong’

but all of the accommodations, they’re crUshing me
my spine snapped in half
my whimpers and the cradling of your touch
the mosaic of doubts and chamber of defeats
i’m never good enough

the expectations
they flaunt their rights and beat me down
the clay that molds between my arms
my chest compressed, the spill of my grit
like gravel, familiarly hard and acutely sharp

© jacob.greb .19.0714.1111