The Purpose-Driven Life

[Prudence]

I don't normally inflict this crap on others, but everyone else is being a good citizen, so here's what my brain was riffing on today. I'd say it's a work in progress, but the truth is it will likely just go in the file and I'll never look at it again. Have I apologized enough yet? Here goes.



The Purpose-Driven Life

what if my purpose is to be nothing?

we weren’t all Cleopatra in a past life;
some of us were ordinary,
maybe even less than ordinary.

why not the same
for the present life?

maybe i’ll be the woman you pity --
alone at the bus stop,
swollen ankles and uneven hem,
afraid to sit;
you’ll see she takes the space of two.

weight shifting on too small feet,
lowered eyes begging for inattention,
limited to sideways glances;
observer, but never participant.

limp locks desperate to escape
droop.

this is the girl who
Could Have Been Somebody

but who would willingly entrust
station, reputation, litigation
to a creature
whose massive body contains the awesome power
to turn even
Haute Couture
into
Unflattering Lumps?

we all serve a higher purpose.
for some to succeed,
others must fail.
is failure my purpose?