A Life That Cannot Be Lived

It fills me with great sorrow, to see others in strife

But in the end, it’s all a part of life

Look to everyone, care for everyone

Until I’m done

Curse my naivety, as it is not only known to me, but by all the world

My nature has me blindsighted, inevitably blurred

In return for aiding, I get backstabbing

In return for kind consent, I receive abandonment

To help is to hurt, and to care for is to curse

Friends are to enemies, as life is to death

On the contrary, what if this situation has arised due to me?

Have I deceived myself and shown nothing but covert glee?

The mirror lies in front of me, but alas, I cannot see

As sight is to blind, but truly there isn’t a soul behind

The world is cruel, so people say; thou shall challenge me to a duel

Back and forth, our swords will sway, each time I lose a day

The soul may be eternal, but whereas that is a lie, for harming and hurting will surely make it die

A raven perched upon my opponent and to their dismay, down to Plutonian they withered away

It leaves me with questions, does good always triumph over evil?

Considering I’m still standing, is that even legal?

For a wretched person like me shall never be victorious, or so I think

My insecurities stand between me and my destiny in just a blink

They showed me my worth, they stood right before

And little did I know, there was something more

I am what I truly want to be

No one can define me or try me

Like a soaring bird, I’ll raise my wings

Before my eyes, my true song sings

“Let go of the branch” says a voice inside

“For if you let go you will find”

“A place that has your true destiny”

And that my friends is me

-Shreya Nippani
 June 2, 2023