This Nakedness You Witness Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Don't think for one moment,
I wish to follow in your footsteps.
Or that I seek acceptance,
To 'allow' from you an approval!

I was not granted my life,
To struggle or fight to enlighten my mind...
To find myself repeating your dreams.
I have my own.
And none of them that I have shown,
Bears your name!

Whatever it is you may think of me...
Think it!
Drink it!
Sip it with gossip to lick it up!

And whatever claim to fame I am due,
It did not come to me without pain.
And 'that' no one I know...
Or have been honored to be introduced,
Has shared.
Or have declared...
They have or had wanted to bear.
No struggles I know,
Came to me without obstacles.
And I knew of no one there to share them!

This nakedness you witness...
If you observe closely,
Is not without scars felt.
That I nursed to heal!
With faith and gratefulness.
And no one but God...
Lifted me off my knees!

That's IF you ever wish to question,
WHO and WHAT powers my strength!
It is there and meant to be what it is!
And none of it is in disguise.