who am I

if I'm not the perfect girl
if I'm not as fast
or not as smart
(just need to work harder
I guess)

who am I
if I'm not
a swimmer
a violinist
a reader
a writer
perfection

who am I
if perfect isn't real
if I've been chasing
an illusion
all along

who am I
will I ever be enough
if my mask keeps
breaking open
if my emotions
are too strong

who am I
if I crumble into pieces
(too sensitive
they say)
I might as well
wither away

who am I
a speck of dust
in a big bright world
running out of room
even though there's a full page
to be filled

who am I
if I'm not
brilliant
kind
funny
everything they say
(that maybe
isn't true)

who am I
am I the bully
or the bullied
am I the predator
or the prey

who am I
if I'm not this
perfect daughter
perfect friend

would I still be me
if I didn't swim as fast
if I didn't read as much
if I changed my hobbies
would I still be the same

who am I
hidden in the shadows
waiting for my turn
never brave enough
to step into the light

who am I
if I'm not who I'm
supposed to be

who am I
do I get to choose

because I would like
to write
my own story