i used to worry that others
would finally see
the truth of me
my midnight darkness
entwined with silver light
reject me as the monster
withdraw their love
threaten to set my house ablaze
with their self-righteous torches
i no longer have the time
nor the patience
for the faint of heart
the weak of will
i will not change
or contort myself
to earn the thin gruel
of such conditional love
i was made for bigger dreams
fiercer souls

© 2019 Christine E. Ray – All Rights Reserved