Cleaning up Ashes

In the shadows cast by others' light I dwell,

A silent echo, an afterthought's knell.

The canvas of my dreams painted light,

In hues of sacrifice, each stroke a fight.

I am the pillar, sturdy, strong,

Yet in my crowded solitude, I long

For recognition, not just a glance,

To live more life than this supportive trance.

A tapestry woven with threads of care,

Yet no one sees the burdens I bear.

A mosaic of self, shattered and cracked,

In the relentless storm, resilience sacked.

A vessel of strength, an unwavering guide,

Yet within I’m broken, in a way I can't hide.

How long can one exist on the fringe,

Before the soul begins to unhinge?

I am more than the sum of roles I play,

Treated as an afterthought every single day,

In the cocoon of duty, a prisoner confined,

Cracks emerge in the fortress of the mind.

I yearn to be more than this silent score,

A chorus of voices, each one more.

For I too seek the warmth of the sun,

Not merely the shadow, where I'm spun.

In the symphony of life, I have a song,

A melody that's been silent for too long.

I'll rise from the ashes of the fire I let burn,

And refuse to move, I’ll demand my turn.

For even pillars have their breaking point,

A moment when resilience is out of joint.

I won't be confined to a supporting role,

I'll reclaim my essence, make myself whole.

In the crucible of time, I'll redefine,

The narrative is scripted line by line.

No longer just an echo, a fading ember,

I am the storyteller, the protagonist, remember?