No Stranger to This

Talking about being vulnerable makes me feel vulnerable!

I am not a stranger to the stage
In fact I really love being up here
Slipping on a mask 
presenting what you want to see
The intricate dance of pleasing everyone in the room
To get some kicks 

I am not a stranger to the stage
In fact, I really love being up here 
But unmasking myself
Being vulnerable
Speaking from the heart. 
That
Makes me shake

I could tell tales of success
Empowerment 
Inspirational stories
Girl conquers the world
Designed to make you feel better
Allowing me to wear my costume

Getting up here and voicing my failures
Painting naked pictures of my vulnerability 
The times I tried to break down walls
And ended up buried deep underneath them
Dust covered and broken
No longer hoping for light to filter through

That 
Makes me quake

Success is a mask
Failure is a mask

I tried and didn't succeed 
I am a failure
I tried and I excelled 
I am a success

If you take only the words 
I tried
And hold them up to the light 
You will see that moment of 
Discomfort
Where boundaries are 
stretched 
Invisible boundaries snap 
Suddenly 
You're in free fall

Whether you land on your face or your feet is irrelevant. 
You have already jumped 
and 
for a moment in time 
No matter how out of control you are
You flew

I am not a stranger to being up here
But letting you see me in free fall

That
Makes me soar