Courage
I gathered up the remnants of my old and scattered courage.
I shored up the defense around my young and shattered heart.
I fought the inner voices that were trying to discourage.
I struggled to remember God has loved me from the start.
How many times unmentioned have I kindly stood alone?
How many times have hidden my distress to save them face?
How many times forgiven and their secrets not made known?
No longer could I stay where I have never had a place.
I once upon a time believed that they loved me the most.
I thought it was my due to be prioritized as last.
They told me how to feel and they pretended we were close.
My happiness was suffering from always being masked.
In final desperate wisdom and despite my inner voice,
I cried out for encouragement and let myself be known.
I will not be a victim and I always have a choice.
And in this place I finally realized I am not alone.
The words of affirmation that came quickly pouring in,
I used as ammunition in the war I’ve fought since youth,
To stun the inner voices that demoralize within,
Defeating painful lies with the explosive light of truth.
No longer will I edit me to be whom they’d prefer.
I’m not a manuscript that they can scrap and then restart.
My value isn’t pending till committees can confer.
I’m not up for debate for I’m a published work of art.
I shored up the defense around my young and shattered heart.
I fought the inner voices that were trying to discourage.
I struggled to remember God has loved me from the start.
How many times unmentioned have I kindly stood alone?
How many times have hidden my distress to save them face?
How many times forgiven and their secrets not made known?
No longer could I stay where I have never had a place.
I once upon a time believed that they loved me the most.
I thought it was my due to be prioritized as last.
They told me how to feel and they pretended we were close.
My happiness was suffering from always being masked.
In final desperate wisdom and despite my inner voice,
I cried out for encouragement and let myself be known.
I will not be a victim and I always have a choice.
And in this place I finally realized I am not alone.
The words of affirmation that came quickly pouring in,
I used as ammunition in the war I’ve fought since youth,
To stun the inner voices that demoralize within,
Defeating painful lies with the explosive light of truth.
No longer will I edit me to be whom they’d prefer.
I’m not a manuscript that they can scrap and then restart.
My value isn’t pending till committees can confer.
I’m not up for debate for I’m a published work of art.