When I was young

Mama said I “got a light,

Let it Shine.”

 

I was bright and optimistic,

But darkness crept in my mind.

I suppressed that side,

Only focused on the Shine.

 

Mama said I “got a light,

Let it Shine;”

But she had a broken mind.

 

So I created a dream.

While I was asleep,

Made a maze inside,

Only focused on the Shine.

 

She said, “Let it Shine;”

But she had a broken mind,

Hoping her darkness stayed with her.

 

The dream I had created,

Ignored that I was tainted.

Entrenched on the bright side,

Only focused on the Shine.

 

But she had a broken mind,

Hoping her darkness stayed with her;

Not a part of my life.

 

My life was imbalanced,

Imprisoned by talents.

My maze was eroding,

Only focused on the Shine.

 

Hoping her darkness stayed with her;

Not a part of my life,

But it hides in the corners of my mind.

 

I tried ignoring the depression,

Which meant stopping expression.

Must imprison the dark side,

Can only focus on the Shine.

 

Not a part of my life,

But it hides in the corners of my mind,

And comes out at night.

 

My dreams broke under pressure,

Left the pieces on my dresser.

So I turned from that side,

Turned away from the Shine.

 

Darkness arrives from the corners of my mind,

And comes out at night;

Unaware that dark had taken over my life.

 

I used obsessions as distractions,

Became dependent on habits.

I no longer had a maze,

Turned away from the Shine.

 

Darkness comes out both day and night;

Unaware that dark had taken over my life,

Forgot what it means to be alive.

 

Mama held me in her arms,

Told me to lay down my arms.

I have internal strife,

Doesn’t mean I can’t Shine.

 

Unaware darkness exists so there’s light,

Forgot what it means to be alive.

I realized that growing up meant acceptance.

 

The past dream I envisioned

Never suited my ambitions.

Darkness complements the light,

Doesn’t prevent the Shine.

 

Remember what it means to be alive,

I realized that growing up meant acceptance

Of both of my sides.