High School Is Hard
High school is hard.
Hell, humanity is hard.
Supposed to be happy, unscarred
Little bundles of perfect wrapping
Sapping our strength to smile
As we hunch over, tapping out
Our little tabloid tableaus,
Even as we know
It's just for show.
Expectations, from mom, dad, teacher, pastor, coach, friend
This task-master, ever asking for a mask
And switch faster as they pass
Hide the glass shards of our craft
Crafting this fearful facade,
This step-in-time pantomime
That’s no one else's fault but mine
Designed to ensnare the mind
I only assume it's blind leading blind
As I try to see
Mankind in motion
Grasping at the notions
Of love and devotion
As I walk through the campus
Passing near faces I know I know
But feeling only fear
Though I know to say hello is not a show
I say all this
Because
I’m afraid of you.
Because I’m afraid
I’ll say something wrong.
So I hide behind whistles and song
Because I’m afraid
you’ll see my mask slip.
As it chips away every day
Because I’m afraid
I’m not good enough.
But
Every smile
Every word is a victory
Despite the trips and tics in me
Constantly invading me,
I'm breaking free
Learning to smile and talk and sing independently
Learning who it is that is me
Learning to be.