The Weight Of Expectation Poem by Vanessa Dizon Alvarez

Be the better soul, the steady flame,
Not for applause, not for acclaim.
Let your heart be pure, your path be true—
What you are will echo through.

Pain will come, it always does,
But knowing why is half the buzz.
Feel it deep, then let it go—
The roots of peace begin to grow.

We hope for love the way we give,
Expect the world to let us live.
But minds are shaped by different skies,
And hearts don't beat in synchronized ties.

So let them be, and let them choose,
Their wins, their faults, their paths, their views.
You're not their sculptor, not their guide—
Just walk your truth with quiet pride.

You've got a soul too fierce, too wide,
To shrink for those who've never tried.
Be the light that doesn't fade—
A storm-born star, self-made.