I met the criteria,
but i'm worried about my mind feeling that i'm adequate.
I ask,
Am I adequate?
He responds,
with a resonating
harsh
bitter
'No'.

At that moment,
with pain,
came the realization that no matter what i did,
my mind wouldn't see me as adequate.

Alas, he couldn't be pacified,
and I never realized that I was actually adequate
until it was too late.

(d.b.)