Where We Never Look--The Forgotten Places

White Wall

Upon a white wall, four colors there stood,

The dark, the fair, the theatric and good.

Each so different, and lovely in their way,

Each with so much to do; so much to say.

But I was ashamed of these colors so strange,

That I hid them from view, out of sight's range.

I tried, and I tried to cover them with what they are not,

But to me, only pain and distress it brought.

I could not cover them, nor hide them from the eyes,

So I was prepared to say my goodbyes

To these treacherous colors upon my blank wall,

That had spread, despite my angry call.

But they talked to me, and spoke to my heart.

Their words touched me; I knew I could not part

With the dark, the fair, the theatric and good.

Not even when I was in the mood.

The dark, she spoke first, "I am the sadness inside your mind,

"The thoughts you don't want, but always find.

"I am the part of you that was built as you broke,

"But I've helped you through every paddleboat row stroke.

"I've made you cry when you were so numb it hurt,

"And I've brought you up from feeling like dirt.

"I've reminded you what joy is like,

"And I've reminded you third isn't always the last strike!"

The fair, she spoke next, "I've taught you to be your very best.

"Honest, and true,

"And lovely too.

"I've lessoned you on the unfairness and fairness of humanity,

"And I turned you away from bad vanity.

"Yet, I allow you to appreciate your beauty,

"All the while keeping you fast to your duty.

"Remember me when you're clunky and awkward,

"When you don't stand out just as you wanna.

"You will be you, and that is fair,

"Just like I, and the soft whistling air."

"What is a rose?" spouted the theatric,

"But a petal-faced beauty with thorns--that's eccentric!

"We are never meant to be normal, to be the same.

"If that were true, we'd not have names.

"So, stand out, in front of the crowd!

"Life's too short for fear to be allowed!

"Don't listen; there'll always be critics.

"Just carry around a needle, or a friend, to help with stitches."

"Good is what's right, what's in your heart," said the good.

"Not what you think too much for, what you over brood."

"It's what makes you human, next to dark, I know.

"The goodness, the kindness, it helps you grow!

"So feel it, so give it, so want it, so love it,

"The world needs every lasting bit."

Now thanks to these colors, I'm no longer a pale canvas,

But a four colored--more colored!--brightness fanatic!

There's some dark, some sad, some tears,

Mixed in, and a couple fears.

But I don't want them to control me,

So me is who I'll be.

No matter if my darkness, my theatrics,

My fairness, my good, isn't what is normal , what matters is

That I am me,

I will be

myself.