We are now numbers
Newness
And niche-ing ourselves down to fit in aesthetically pleasing boxes
"Target audience"
To toss out the bits of us unworthy of applause
On good days, our supplications for approval are met with silence
Sweet silence
And on others, a sour mix of noisy
Little tricks we shouldn't forget to make us easier for people to love
We try to stand out without standing up for what we believe
The world says you self-deceive if you take a break from trying to be better
If you show grace to your flaws instead of casting them aside
Compensation and comparison become your great guide
You are bridging the gap at the cost of compromise
But you'll never be enough
Not in the sense of the world's satisfaction
Simply because the world is insatiable
Like flesh
Like death
Like a restless mind filled with regret
God knows this body is only dust
That is why he does not want us chasing after the wind
It'd cause us to scatter,
Cause us to give weight and make space for things that don't matter
When you pick up a pen to write
Or lift your body for dancing
Know that you are not alive because you can be this beautiful
You can be this beautiful because you are alive