Stuck in a place where the world panders to the middle,
assumptions are made defining what I need, what I want,
what it is I desire, what might be attainable
Things I must have to make me a person of value
A constant barrage daring me to measure my self-worth
against societal rankings I had no part in creating
Having lived once in a world of madhouse mirrors, my hunger for more
held paralyzing allure, a deceptive lull between craving, wanting, yearning
for things I did not need – these greasepaint monsters working subtle terror
Peaking in a frenzy of random consumption, it had no choice but to collapse
It was beautiful, this moment of honesty, of release
Hunger driven by a need to fill my soul
Thirst satisfied by the nectar of simple ways
What I want now is different from what I need
At the end of the day, after campaigns conclude and revenue is calculated
and that imaginary bar is set even higher, after careers are made and broken,
I remain here wavering on whimsical designations with complete satisfaction
knowing what I desire – truth, love, the freedom acceptance brings,
and an occasional taste of sweetness,
are always attainable
photo: mine
prompts: OctPoWriMo, WordPress Daily Post, #MadCarnival/#MadVerse
Writing and Reflections 
[…] 74. Obsessed – Written Frames 75. Taker – I am a paradox. 76. Release – abbisoul 77. Steps Times Two – Below the Middle 78. …Blow In The Wind… – Love Life Without Fear 79. B*_ live – Fade Away 80. […]
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This is very powerful and at first seems confused and a bit dark until the speaker learns and goes back to these simple thing, easily and always available that make her happy. I love the line: “It was beautiful, this moment of honesty, of release,” when she finds her peace.
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Thank you. I wanted to compare the complicated to the easy and show that what is simple is enough.
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Realization and the courage to act upon the realization makes one free, to live life according to one’s own terms.
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I appreciate your thoughts in this work. I think many of us have gotten caught up in wanting more, more, more. This never leads to anything good, but releasing that hunger does, as you said, lead to freedom.
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Thanks. For me, it was a lesson learned the hard way, but I’m much happier for it!
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Michele, this is a wonderful poem. I love this line: “Thirst satisfied by the nectar of simple ways”. Thank you. xoA
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Thank you so much!
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So much truth in this. Hits home. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you!
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[…] Source: Below the Middle […]
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Thank you
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