before. ..
i tried to imagine
what you were like
before the world got its hands on you.
before you were ever led to believe
that something was wrong with you.
i tried to envision who you were
before you were taught to feel
stupid, ashamed, bad, not good
enough, ugly, crazy.
i wish i could get you back to that place,
so you would remember your worth,
your beauty, and the truth
about the brilliant goodness in you.
maybe that would help you to ditch
those bullshit ideas you have about
who you are,
and let you get on living
like you used to
before.