You Expect Too Much From Someone You Don't Even See Poem by Zaza Adeniyi

Stop acting like I owe you anything.
You don't get to stack your expectations on me
and then look shocked
when I stop carrying them.
You don't check on me.
You don't hear me.
You don't even see me—
but somehow you think you get to judge me.
Please.
Be serious.
You want perfect?
Go find it somewhere else.
You want quiet?
Pick someone who cares enough to shrink.
You want me to 'do better'?
Do it yourself.
I'm done breaking my back
to meet standards
you couldn't survive for a day.
If that sounds rude,
good.
It's the first time
I've said something
that's actually mine.