A Life That Cannot Be Lived
By Shreya Nippani, June 2, 2023

It fills me with great sorrow, to see others in strife
But in the end, it’s all a part of life
Look to everyone, care for everyone
Until I’m done
Curse my naivety, as it is not only known to me, but by all the world
My nature has me blindsighted, inevitably blurred
In return for aiding, I get backstabbing
In return for kind consent, I receive abandonment
To help is to hurt, and to care for is to curse
Friends are to enemies, as life is to death
On the contrary, what if this situation has arisen due to me?
Have I deceived myself and shown nothing but covert glee?
The mirror lies in front of me, but alas, I cannot see
As sight is to blind, but truly there isn’t a soul behind
The world is cruel, so people say; thou shall challenge me to a duel
Back and forth, our swords will sway, each time I lose a day
The soul may be eternal, but whereas that is a lie, for harming and hurting will surely make it die
A raven perched upon my opponent and to their dismay, down to Plutonian they withered away
It leaves me with questions, does good always triumph over evil?
Considering I’m still standing, is that even legal?
For a wretched person like me shall never be victorious, or so I think
My insecurities stand between me and my destiny in just a blink
They showed me my worth, they stood right before
And little did I know, there was something more
I am what I truly want to be
No one can define me or try me
Like a soaring bird, I’ll raise my wings
Before my eyes, my true song sings
“Let go of the branch” says a voice inside
“For if you let go you will find”
“A place that has your true destiny”
And that my friends is me.