Pretending


I'm good at lying
but I'm not proud of it
I'm not proud of having to hide who I am from everybody 
and for everybody I have to be a different person 
I'm not proud of pretending, 
to my siblings I'm the responsible nagger, who keeps them from killing each other,
to my grandparents I'm the sweet grandchild, who has always been sweet, always will be sweet and only speaks when spoken to,
to my mother I'm a 'troubled teen who struggles to voice themselves.', 
to my father, to my father I'm. . . you know what I give up on that one, 
I honestly have no idea what he thinks of me, he travels a lot.
to my piers I'm mildly annoying, rebellious, and the bringer of free baked goods,
to my teacher I'm quiet, have trouble saying no, could end up in any number of professions, and say sorry too much,
to my best friend. . . I'm one giant problem, with a million secrets.
the thing is I'm all of these
and so much more,
I just haven't quite found that 'much more' yet.
before I can share who I am with others,
I have to share it with myself.

 

Inkpaw

VT

18 years old

More by Inkpaw

  • The Boxes In The Corner

    Looming over your shoulders

    Each stack higher than its former

    Every thought and every scrap

    Of an idea too scared to ponder

     

    Every moment that hurt

    Each minute that lingered longer

  • Inadequacy


    How do I push the words out
    From behind my taffy tongue 
    Thick with salty tears 
    And full of grubby thumb 


    I’m a child 
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  • Paper Frogs

    Why

    When feet fall soft but quick 

    Does the hallway extend

    And the hot breath of whoever’s behind me feel hotter 

    Why do I stay pressed to the wall 

    Like a stubborn gruby sticker