Until I'm Not

by Conlee Ricketts

I am patient. Until I’m not
I am strong. Until I’m not
I am funny, brave, hardworking,
Anything really. Until I’m not
 
A flash of anger, impatience, intolerance
Any other mood or behavior I call “ugly”
And as quick as it comes, it goes
 
​Then once again
I am patient
I am kind
I am full of forgiveness and grace
 
My moral compass
My belief that I should “always” be these things
This “should” pulls me down
This is not an “always”
 
I remember
A compass floats
And so must I

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Photo by Ali Kazal on Unsplash