Once I was wild and free,

Imaginative and curious

Wanting to explore every corner

Of the universe and uncover

It’s secrets.

Maybe a little loud

And boisterous,

But assured that my ideas

And dreams were within reach.

Then I was shamed

Into quieting myself down.

Fear of the unknown was instilled.

And suddenly, exploring the world

Seemed frightening and impossible.

Just a silly joke I had played on myself.

I was judged and found wanting.

Small, incompetent girl who thinks

She could be someone in a world

Filled with so many faceless no ones.

I tried to hide myself in the darkest,

Smallest corner of the universe I could find

In hopes they wouldn’t see me anymore.

That they would ignore me and forget

All about me and my shortcomings.

So I stuffed myself into so many boxes

And roles that simply weren’t me.

Until I became so fake and plastic

And sick that I had to break free.

I burned those boxes to ash,

Stepped out of the darkness

To once again be wild and free.