why does –
being yourself
seem to the worst ‘lifestyle choice’
for your mental health

here is the lullaby –
they expect you sing
but my age,
you have dipped your days
in something more realistic

he drowned in his poor mental health
he wreaked havoc
on my childhood
and never attempted to clear up the mess
he drank himself dry
just trying to learn how it is you cry

it could have been a different life,
less trauma,
one with constant light
do not fight
find yourself a place to grow

who shares your view
your vision –
or even hue?
who finds the edges of your screen

you reminded me –
of a time
when i thought the world of you
and you reminded me –
of how big and how interesting –
that was