The Chameleon

Skilled in the art of adaptation

at a whim, I change and shift;

existing for the approval of others

used to think this was my gift.

“Who you are isn’t enough”

from early on is what I’ve been taught;

so, I sacrifice my individuality

upon the altar of others’ thoughts.

But being an everyone to everybody

makes me a nobody to myself;

can there be pain that runs deeper

than being a book on someone else’s shelf?

I long just to be me

to matter, to be true;

I guess I need someone to say –

“It’s okay to just be you.”