i have been valued
most of my life
only for the pieces of me
well-liked.
they take those pieces
with them
when the rest of me
becomes intolerable.
leaves me full of holes;
full of things deemed
unlovable
frustrating
damaged.
walls have grown
to guard the tender parts,
to be particular about
what people get their hands on.
still these particular parts
chosen to share
get put atop a pedestal,
later revealed to be
more than ideal, unattainable-
i am still too much
and not enough
all at once.