masks

I didn't realize

it would be this hard

to nurture all the things I hold dear, and

at the same time allow myself

to thrive.

Let me do it all, I thought.

Why not? I know I can.

I feel good,

I feel strong,

empowered,

emboldened.

And now, it's happened—

I've hit a wall.

Who was I kidding?

What sort of mutant monstrosity

can keep all these balls up in the air?

—Woman, mother, partner, friend,

child, writer, artist, scientist, professional—

I left

Person

behind somewhere.

For a while, I was angry

without knowing why.

And then, for a bit,

I thought I was slowly losing my mind.

Now I see what I did:

I was so busy masking

I left Human behind.