all he wanted

all he wanted was to be seen

to be equal

to have a voice

to be recognized

not for the petty insecurities of those nearest

but for the way he saw the world

and how it could be better for us all

for everyone involved

but they said there were things he could not know

they dismissed his greatest dreams

his calling to improve upon what was

to make what is that much more amazing

to help the brightest shine even brighter

he never saw the ones he loved as not good enough

and he loves everyone he has ever known

but the only thing people could hear is how he thought them lesser

it wasn't because he thought them incapable

but for seeing the potential of their reach

because he knew they could succeed

he wanted to help everyone be their best selves

but the world heard his hopes as too critical and demanding

and they rejected his utopic vision

and in the end they rejected him totally

they despised the possibilities he saw

because they loathed the flaws in the world they had created

they hated that he refused to celebrate mediocrity

that he did not accept because it always was so it shall always be

because he knew they all knew better

because they were the ones who once were his teachers and peers

but if they accept his help now then they admit how wrong they treat him

he wanted to level the playing field by any means necessary

he knew they would never let him

that he could not be equal in thier world

he decided the only option was to burn it all to the ground

let all that remains be ash

but because their identities and scope were secret

and never admitted nor let him see the things they hid

the destruction was as all the rest

not a mutual engagement

he only burned his own bridges

and there he would remain in exile

in sacrificial martyrdom

and so he waited there in solitude for his end to come