Dear Mom and Dad,

You built an altar

From dirt and stone

The cuts and bruises on your bare hands

Are trophies of the sacrifices you made

For me

I’m supposed to be a god

To be called a god by association

Is not the same as being a god

Yet I am chained to this throne

That all seek to seize

Adorned with jewels

And called a jewel

But I am no diamond

My body is built of rotting tree bark

My mind was formed from thin glass

My heart already cracked

Ready to shatter

Far too often life smashes me into the ground

​

By the divine

The expectations touch the heavens

An impossible climb for mankind

I know I’m lucky

But luck has made me a weak soldier

You try too hard to make me happy

Blessing me with 

Treasures from above

Guarding me with fortresses 

The elements cannot compete with

But that’s not what I want

Cause instead of being happy

I worry

So Mom and Dad

Stop trying so hard

Your daughter,

Ashley