This Gray, Unfortunate Place (2)

27 - You Can Change

You know, to be honest,

it's pretty sad. 

I don't mean that

in a statement of offense,

but rather, I genuinely 

take pity 

on your self-limiting, 

maladaptive conceptions 

of me, of me. 

To the parent 

who constricts their kids

from seeing the colors

that the Earth offers-

I'm so sorry 

that you're so paralyzed 

with the most crucial 

kinds of demons,

that you feel the needs

to enmesh and trap your children. 

Beyond this, 

I hope things get better for a select-group 

of former boyfriends and girlfriends 

who are so afraid to get the wheels turnin' 

in a different direction 

that they keep spinnin' the narrative 

of how the past doesn't change. 

It can change. 

You can change. 

But you'll only realize it 

when you get so sick 

from all the bullshit,

isn't that right? 

I hope things have gotten better for you,

even if it's just babysteps-

In fact,

babysteps 

are more gigantic 

more than you notice. 

I want this message 

to uplift

all your heavy bones, 

but I know you'll just tell me

'the past is hard to let go of,

understandably'. 

Because, to be honest,

I know that nothing's unwarranted. 

There's nothin' 'crazy' about 

how you're feelin',

but you can either build it 

and hold out an open hand

or retreat

back to where things make sense

and it's all, in a way, some kind of plan.