You say that you know me 

Inside and out 

You only know the person I want you to see 

I’m a cliff against the crashing waves of the ocean 

Some nights I feel as though I want only the peace of sitting on the edge 

Feeling the wind run through my hair 

Watching the waves in the dark of night roll against the rocks below 

Feeling the splash of impact against my skin 

Other days I feel Fearless 

There is nothing in my way 

With a running start and- a smile pressed into my face, I leap 

Diving into the warm ocean below 

Toes digging into the sand 

Laughing as I watch the fish swim around me 

Climbing up only to do it again  

Some nights I stand against the edge one step away 

Screaming into the wind 

10-foot waves of purple-blue and green 

Smashing into the rugged rocks below

Tears streaming on my knees

Feeling the surge of chaos spinning deep inside 

I am a mountain 

I reach for the sky believing- despite others 

That one day I will get there 

I thrive in the crisp cool serenity 

The peace and quiet 

I love having nothing to do but sit 

Sheltering the lives below me 

Taking the hits of the storm to keep them warm

A sunflower in a field of sunlight

I love being surrounded by others

Soaking up the warmth in the air

Dancing in the wind 

Knowing everything will be alright 

Looking across the glimmering field of yellow 

To the setting sun 

Painting the sky all of the brightest colors 

I am dandelion 

Happy with where I am 

Planting my roots 

Longing to drift around the world 

Wanting to lift in the breeze to run 

And to fly away from life here 

Into the new and thrilling world out there                                                                                                   I wanna see it all

But I plant my roots yellow and young 

Waiting for the future where I’m ready, ready to be set free

Above all, I am simply paper 

Nothing special until a story is added 

I have writing against my skin 

My story 

Some of it is sweet only the kindest words 

But if you look closely 

You will see the words that I and others around me have etched so deeply into my skin

You will see the lies

Insecurities 

And darkest parts of who I am 

You will find my mistakes and faults 

Bleeding out my imperfections

Sealed together with the faith and hope that my cuts will heal 

Paper crumpled and tossed around 

Knowing that I will never undo the damage done 

But despite the changes made to my story 

I am the author I get to choose what words will affect me 

I will write my own ending 

Choose to live happily ever after 

Because the truth is I am 100% me 

But you will only ever see what I choose for you to see