Learn this dance…

i was taught 

to hold my own 

to speak the truth 

and show it 

unapologetically 

that outlandish middle child 

who never needed attention 

from the world 

although i crave 

just one 

and perhaps my personality 

calls out to crowds 

that i’ve always walked away from 

fueled by the values 

beyond a broken society 

a class clown 

skipping class 

and acing the tests 

because knowledge 

has always been easier than 

wisdom 

screaming out loud 

within whispers 

please say my name 

like you love me 

beyond your pain 

see the secrets 

held within my eyes 

and let’s stomp this ground 

learn this dance 

and feel our way through 

breathing out the insignificance 

and learning that 

what there is to give 

is more than 

what we’ve been taught 

-joshua ryan stewart