It was not my fault

That I was pitiful

And that you

When you looked at me

Could only see pitiful

Listen, children can’t

Just decide to be well

Just decide to be whole

When skin breaks

And bones bruise

and organs fail

When talent peaks

And ability is simply not there

The child can’t want enough

Even deeply

To be found acceptable

Some children are pitiful

And I know that was me

And I saw the looks

And I saw that some

Really loved the pitiful boy

But that is not all that I was

I was more than scrapes

I was more than rashes

I was more than someone

Who needed dealt with

I, like so many kids

Was desperate for anyone

Who was willing

To contend with me

I want people

To walk past the sign

To love the land

To contend

Everywhere

There is a palace

With a broken piece

But what a shame

Not to enter