apology

I have never been shot at,

but I have heard shots fired.

I have stood ten feet back,

as I watched them conspire.

I’ve been left on the ground,

as they drifted up higher.

I have lost myself.

I have grown unwired, uninspired,

too fearful to aspire,

too exhausted to inquire,

too desperate to require.

I have lost my fire,

and acquired a desire to retire.

I’ve lost the vision,

the passion.

I’ve replaced justice,

with fashion.

Swapped out my pride,

for unclassified snides

and unspecified cries.

I have lost my energy.

I have slaughtered my "me",

plucked every branch off the tree.

I have channeled all my soul

into pretending not to see,

and pretending not to care,

and pretending not to to be.

To the people I let down,

here’s my apology:

It took some time to realize

“meaning” wasn’t meant for me.

#burnout