just so that others are at ease
plan my life around being out of their line of sight
to keep their inner peace
lord knows not everyone needs to love me
nor care to let me be
but how I wish I did no one any bother
just by existing
i have dragged my curiosity around,
my affection, and my laugh
to try and be what others need
only to be cared for last
and still, still it has not mattered
i am the smudge on the page
so, i take my story somewhere else
to a space that feels safe
where the characters are happy
to have me near, and are openly themselves
and i am welcome to skip among them
while being just myself
i don't need to be anyone's queen
or the center of any stage
but it would be nice to receive equal to
the kindness that i engage
- les'nspired
