Pins and Needles

I walk on pins and needles on my soft bare feet,
The stinging in my flesh is not at all sweet.
Bleeding from my soles I feel the blood trickle,
I can no longer feel my tender toes wiggle.

Your words I dodge like a snake in the water.
The sounds bite me anyway and the coldness seeps into the cuts.
“Blunt,” you say you are to me, that is your excuse,
But, I ignore that alibi, that is my ruse.

When I see those words coming: I zig and I zag,
those sharp teeth, those fangs they do jut out.
I cry with agony, the tears they still flow,
“What have I done?”, I ask, but, I still do not know.

Nothing, I have done nothing.
I am full, I am complete.
I was everything when I was born,
I need to do nothing to compete.

I am bodacious, I am strong,
I can do everything, I do no wrong.
Believe in yourself, you can do it,
Screaming out loud — “there is no need to prove it.”

Today you did it.
Today you called on yourself.
Today you won,
Your rehearsed brain ratted you out.

Don’t be afraid to be strong,
Don’t be afraid to speak your truth,
Don’t be afraid of who you are,
You have a voice and you yell through the roof.

I am ME!
I am NOT afraid!
I WILL go forward!
My consciousness I will NOT trade!

Look at me,
Hear me,
Do not fear me,
Accept me,
Taste me,
Do not ignore me,
See me,
And...always...adore ME.