Less than Human

Less than Human

“It’s impolite to falsify hope.” –Kellie Cooke

So then why do I do it to myself?

Confused that the real “you.”

            Is so different from the “you”

I believed to be true. 

            Are you no more than a simile?

Like an honest lie…

I hate feeling alone in a crowd.

People fail —once, twice and again—

I can’t not quit.

            But I can stop trying. 

Should I stop trying?

So many “you’s”

New you’s

            Disillusion me

Why can’t I keep

            the old you’s

that embrace me?  

I’m used to fallacies

            In “families.”

Exposed.

Naïve.

Maybe I should put the mask back on

            And pretend to be a person

I’m too often treated

            As

                                    Less than Human