I have been taught

To dream,

But not in excess,

To hope,

But not so much,

To fight,

But not too hard,

Because maybe,

I will find

The backbone

 to burst out

Of this jail cell

I’ve been thrown in.

I’ve been taught

To think of my body

As a cage,

And me,

As the trapped animal

That only

Wants to break free.

I’ve been taught

To think of myself

As some kind of play dough

That needs to be shaped

Until perfection is reached.

What I haven’t been taught

Is to think on my own,

To follow my heart,

To do what I like the most,

To become anyone I want.