Dear Failure:

 

You creep in when least expected,

leaving needles behind my eyes,

stinging my soul.

 

Hard work, commitment, effort

All thrown away.

For what?

For that sinking feeling

of my heart, like a bowling ball

sinking through my stomach.

 

You mislead me

with false hope

until I collapse

from the unbearable weight,

like an elephant

perched on my chest,

of too-many-too-high expectations.

 

You search

far and wide

for any weakness,

any missing chainlink of armor,

and stab.

 

I have learned

enough lessons

for five hundred people

through you.

 

I could

wish you away

forever,

but I could not.

You made me

You shaped me.

You tore me down.

You taught me

to fight.

 

I fought

I struggled

I won.

I succeeded.

 

Goodbye,

failure.

My greatest

enemy.

My biggest

motivator.

 

Signed,

Alyssa

Somebody You Used to Control