I was told today
That I should step back
And look at myself
My thoughts, my beliefs -
Because apparently
I don't know myself well enough
To know who I am.

My hands had strychnine spasms
Until they became stuck fists
And my stomach acid
Licked up my throat to tickle my tongue.
But I'm not allowed to be angry
Because it's wrong, it's dangerous
So I felt my hot cheeks grow damp
As I grew to hate
My plummeting heart.

How dare You!  You,
Who is not Me,
Can never understand
The way red balloons lose helium
In my head making it float high
Until all that He has leaked out
And then I fall
But it's good,
More that good,
Because I can feel my skin tingle
As I learn to fly.

You'll never know of the
Grey ash in my blood
Filling up my flaming heart
With dust and dirt
Slowly smoldering past my paper skin
Until I burst into embers,
Scattering in the breeze and on the seas,
Burning for a second
Before I'm out.

Self entitled
Pretentious
Damnable
You,
Who dare to presume
You understand Me,
When You've barely begun
To know Me.