Three rings

for three years

that I haven’t been myself

Three rings

for three years

I’ve held myself back

Can I step outside the circles

that I have circumscribed myself with?

A shell that took three years to grow

only took one to break

and now this fledgling is ready to fly

No fourth ring.

The fourth breaks the other three

Stepping out and

standing tall

Kicking down those circular walls

Everything is new:

places I’ve gone

people I’ve met

things I’ve done

confidence I’ve felt

I’ve broken my own borders

released myself from others’ expectations

set free the me that was living inside

and that made this year the best