What the Storybooks Got Wrong
When you’re a kid, they tell you a lot of things
They show you stories and prayers and coloring
They always tell you that you can do anything
And that you could be queen of the world
They say “If you believe, you can achieve
When you achieve, you can be
Whatever it is that you see
In your future”
But when you can’t sleep but you can’t stay awake
And your head just always seems to ache
You say that espresso was a huge mistake
But there was a pea under your mattress
Do you tell your friends that it’s nothing
Even though you’ve tried everything
You’ve been huffing and puffing
But not a single piece of straw blows down
And other girls seem pretty happy and bright
They don’t scream or yell or get in fights
You don’t feel like you’re the prettiest sight
But don’t let them call you ugly duckling
You grab your dark clouds and say
Rain rain go away
Come again another day
But they’re already here and it’s pouring
Homework and real work feel like surprise rabbit holes
And your hands are holding onto the controls
But down and down you continue to roll
until this is wonderland?
You feel overwhelmed completely
Even though your effort is that of an underwhelming weakling
To the bean stalks we’ve built ourselves we cling
Who planted these awful seeds anyway?
We are hardly taught about our mental health
It makes us uncomfortable so we tip-toe around the topic in stealth
There was no story of anyone asking for help
Until I told it just now