Not My Job (poem)

self-minimizing and putting myself in harm's way for those who harm me are no longer my specialties

an excerpt from my poem featuring Wile E. Coyote and The Roadrunner along the bottom. The word "RUN" is between them as well as a yellow caution sign. There's a little sun in the upper left and everything is within a yellow border.

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Content Note: references to abuse (not detailed)

It's not my job

to make angels out of monsters.

It's not my job

to serve as the solder of a broken family

that I didn't lead down the path of breaking.

It's not my job

to stitch shut black holes

I didn't even have a hand in creating.

It's not my job

to be continually steeped in chaos

and give up my dream of harmony.

It's not my job

to file down the clawed hands that harmed me.

It's not my job

to be more stifled shadow,

less shimmering sun.

It's not my job to smile and stay

when every cell screams RUN!

My job is to write poetry

and edit it

and be it

but not towards those

who only ever tried to siphon my poetic soul.