Voices

All too well do I understand 

the fear inside

I too have listened to 

the voices of doubt

when they speak in my mind

saying

they do not like how you are 

dark or loud or cynical 

or quiet

or filled with rage

or too much in love

or lovely or short

or filled with poems

or frequently on fire

all your qualities will drive away

some of the well-wishers 

you will be too much

for them to embrace

or not enough.

I am telling you

to cast it all off

a warrior knows

you cannot fight battles

of someone else’s choosing 

put your foot in the door

and hope that they will

encompass the truth of you.