SHED

shed

like excess mental weight

the pounds

of their cruelty

the way they glare

and you silently agree

criticism

from people

not wearin' your skin

but callin' foul

for the way you

look in it

carry it

behave in it

shed

  

like dank clothes

the rubble

from your storms of persecution

sidestep
the ominous pond

of disapproval

puddled at your feet

like burdensome debt

shed

your subscriptions

to fear

loathing

discontent

of your life

your body

perceived

lack-ofs

shoulda-alreadies

shouldn'ta-dones

wanna-but-can'ts

shed 

the you

you adopted

and grew

fed lies to

based on their view

their spew

the you 

you scorn

cuz you think
what they shout

is gospel

and now what you are

is pawn
lurching to their slanderous cadence

not champion

of your magnitude

peep
how your arms
flit erratically
legs jerk
how you
beat and kick yourself to shame
with their commentary
parrot the script they write for you
to their delight

this isn't really  the role
you intend to keep playing
in your movie
is it?
you're the star
so get busy
rewriting

 

start a health-phrase diet

double portions 

daily

for your emaciated

self-reverence

gorge on them

get fat

on a superior assessment

of yourself

feast unapologetically

on mouthfuls
of your own delicious story
of a you
you look at proudly
smile at
celebrate and respect
can't get enough of
flaws and all
and say
"Damn, it's great to be me!"

then toss up
the middle-finger deuces
and shed
all the whole and partial
fucks you give
about the people
whose only desire
was to make sure
you never
gave a single fuck
about yourself

©2015 Charlene E. Green