Make a house out of the bricks you have, they said,

But I didn’t know how to put this all in my head;

Raise the roof with only one hand, they cried.

But I didn’t even have the tools to try.

 

I spent days and weeks and months and years

Listening to all those whispers in my ear

About how the world works and what I needed in life,

But I didn't even lift up a finger to try.

 

Look at the sacrifices we have done, my father would say

But I turned off my ears and looked away;

We have given up so much, my mother whispered,

But despite all of this, I didn’t lift a finger.

 

I spent days and weeks and months and years

Listening to all those whispers in my ear

About how the world works and what I needed to do to fly

But I didn’t even lift up a finger to try.

 

And then a stranger, a classmate, a straight-headed friend,

Went to college while I stayed behind, a year younger than them;

I’m broke, I’m dense, my gpa’s a two, they said,

Get your life together, as fast as you can.

 

I spent days and weeks and months and years

Listening to all those whispers in my ear,

About how the world works and what I need to do to fly,

Until I realized it was time to learn to get by.

 

A year I spent, wasting my time,

Ignoring the signs of growing up right;

Painting the picture without any paint,

Covering my faults without complaint.

 

I think I've learned to build a house out of bricks,

Although it could use with a bit of a fix;

But I don’t worry about lacking in tools,

For I know now that no effort is for fools.