Settle

I settled for less

because growing up I didn't expect anything but

I had dreams that would only be that

figments of my imagination

I settled for less

because when I tried to succeed

I was reminded where my place was

a background character filling up space

I settled for less

because being alone

was better than being hurt

the countless times I was told I would never be loved

I settled for less

because less is more than I could ever ask for

grateful to have anything to call my own

even if what's mine

has been discarded by everyone else

I settled for less

because I was never taught my worth

made to believe that my values

could be bought

made to believe that my existence was a gift of its own

I settled for less

because what I needed most

was to flourish and grow

but I was confined to a cage inside my mind

sheltered from the outside world

I settled for less

because it's an easy way out

to deprive myself of happiness

of a life I could call my own

to break the bonds that hold me here

I settled for less

because that's what I do

I settle.