I always thought I knew what I wanted.
When you’re young, you get this image
in your head of being adored by everyone,
and even if I was too young to know my
talent, this desire took over my soul.

And now everywhere I go I can take
the stage and astonish anyone with all
the notes I hit and all the words I speak.
And after a set people would tell me
that I remind them of Janice Joplin —

and people come to me to tell me
that my words changed the actions,
and changed their lives. I had done it.
People loved listening to the sound
of my voice, I had made a difference

in people’s lives... so, I don’t know why
I now feel like nothing is ever enough.
After a few life-rattling, life threatening
events in my life, I could not shake
the pain, so I tried to use this pain

to share in my work, and the masses
appreciated it, but I think in the end
they were all tired of the sob stories
and wanted to only be entertained.
You tell me I have talent, and I do,

but I am not your plaything, and I
don’t want to be a corporate puppet.
Let me have my respite from hunters
who want to turn my talent to nothing.
And after I’m gone, try to remember