Expectations

It has been a pleasure to be alive and in this world.

Embracing life—scratching out a living;

Hand to mouth—paycheck to paycheck

Worry.

Anxiety.

Happy days—in spite of hard times.

Making art on my own time

Hopes and dreams under different circumstances

than expected, but then again,

I’ve learned to expect the unexpected.

I have to laugh

at the assumptions that are pinned to my skin

by people who don’t know me from Eve—or Lilith.

I have never done all that was expected of me.

I have never been whatever anyone expected me

to be—or not to be.

I’m an F-bomb away from blowing up everyone’s expectations.

I make no apologies.

I am not your construct.

I am not your bitch.

I do my thing—I go with the flow,

Or I go against the grain.

Not meaning to be contrary, but I’m on my own path.

Go your own way if you must, leave me to my own.

I’ll get it done, whatever it is—fuck it, I’ll get it done.

That’s how I roll.

Written on my cellphone 5/6/2021 copied down on 5/16/2021, posted here today 5/28/2021