I've Learned (2016)

Well at least

I’ve learned a lot

That cannot be denied

About myself

About life

About the things I do

And do not

Do and want to do

I’ve learned

I can

Walk in a room

And know

What has to happen

To fix it

Improve it

Make it mine—

my thoughts

my vision

and I

can make people want

what I want them to want

and make them happy to want it

and make me happy to want it

and

I’ve learned

I can

win anyone over

with my smile,

fake ‘til it’s made

with the passion I pour

            and pour

                        and pour

with the power I

developed in me.

and I

feel that power

bubbling and stretching

bending me and bending

life

to finally go my way—

maybe.

I’ve learned.

I can.

but is that,

is this,

all there is?

another notch

in a belt

of wonderful, awful

fabulous, frustrating

empowering, enraging

learning?

or

a start

to a brand new

exciting, intriguing,

tragic, magic,

life?

When do I learn

about myself

about my life

and what I do

and will and won’t

and need and don’t—

I know

I need

the learning will not stop.

But I don’t want this to

either

or

to find I’ve learned

yet again

what I won’t and do not

want or need

and my power only goes

so far

and I pack my bags

my skills, my love

and go

and learn

elsewhere

somewhere

once more.