The World is a Beautiful Place

Cynic
by Sheila Krishnan
hey dreamer,
i see what you’re doing,
and i see it’s not working.
stop pinching yourself,
because, dear, this ain’t no
nightmare, it’s only real life.
stop holding your mud-colored
hair and thinking flaxen,
because, honey, it ain’t no
golden thread, only real.
stop painting stars by your eyes,
because, love, they ain’t
gonna sparkle more, they’re only real.
stop lying on your roof
and imagining that someone’s gonna
name a star for you,
because, sugar, you’re only real.
but mostly,
stop stringing together
meaningless letters and trying to find
truth amidst chaos,
because, child, this ain’t supposed
to make sense; it’s only real life.
hey dreamer,
i see what you’re doing,
and i see it’s a valiant effort.
Chris Cassidy
stop shaking in fear,
there ain’t no monster under the bed,
stop wasting your time wishing
no creep ’round the corner,
for something better when you’ve
and no murderers in your room;
got what’s good, because,
dear, this is only real life.
sugar, it ain’t getting better when
you don’t love it already; it’s all only real.
stop looking at yourself in the mirror
and hoping to be someone else,
but mostly, stop doing amazing things
to be more normal,
and hating them, stop writing in
to be perfect, because,
ways that inspire people, painting
honey, this ain’t no high school drama,
pictures that strike something inside,
and it’s okay that you’re only real.
and thinking it’s all mediocre,
because, child, you’re a wonderful
stop drawing eyes all over your things,
person, and not everything’s easy,
hoping that someone will finally
but much is good; it’s only real life.
wake up and see you,
because, love, they can’t
see you any more [than they do now]; you’re only real.
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