'Maybe (Are You Ashamed?)' by Ana Hagins

You’ve condemned the idle minds

that choose to conform.

And you understand that there’s

an emptiness that comes with self denial,

or rather,

self sacrifice. Yet,

you allow others to adjust and readjust your standards.

Is it because you know that you are not like them?

Are you ashamed?

Are you ashamed that there

may only be one person in the world that knows the real you?

But no,

instead of embracing the realest love that’s out there,

let’s substitute your truth for theirs.

That way everybody wins.

Are you ashamed of the differences between you all?

If so, walk like them.

Conform, and be the true leech that you are.

Suck out all the blood that you can from them

so that you can maintain your social life.

Talk like them.

Look me in the eyes and lie.

Speak words that tickle my fancy

and entertain my heart.

Preach a doctrine that you know you won’t follow

since they aren’t really looking for a leader anyways.

Be them,

since being you isn’t good enough.

See them.

Breathe them.

Live them.

But the more like them you become

the more foreign you become to me.

Or maybe that’s just it.

Maybe you aren’t ashamed of the differences.

Maybe there are none.

Maybe you’re just ashamed of me.