Misplaced

I've lost myself, I’ve been misplaced

At least that's how it seems

I cannot find that holy space

Designed for only me

I try to fit the bill

Or maybe - I could fill a need

But still, I've been left feeling

Out of touch and Incomplete

*

It seems that I went missing

I guess it's been near ten years now

Casually dismissing

How I feel, somehow

I put on all these masks

To help me keep it covered-up

I hate having to ask

Or accepting any help

*

So, lost I choose to stay

Stuck down here, deep inside this rut

Abandoned, out of the way

I continue - keeping myself

I don't like or want to shake

Or stir-up anybody's pot

But decisions have been made

Whether I like it, or do not

*

The mundane day to day

challenges my spirit and my will

So, I've learned to softly sway

Like the sturdy whippoorwill

My arms spread-out like branches

Sweeping gently across the ground

Until all of my lost chances

That I love, have all been found

*

Unlike myself....

Misplaced, is where I choose to stay

Kept high upon a shelf

A wild beast wandering estray

Fitting someone else's mold

From someone else's hand

Someone else's dream I hold

Kept held, in strict remand

*

Observing others on their quests

Scrutinizing my own fate

Until I manifest

Internal battles, that I refuse to contemplate

A lost cause or just misplaced

Lost in a sea of my regret

Displaying my faux pas

That I've forgotten to forget

*

Senseless as a no parking sign

On a buoy out at sea

Or a bartenders first call

My idiosyncrasies

Firstly overlooked

Blending myself into the crowd

Rescheduled and rebooked

Carried away upon a cloud

*

Mis-guided and misjudged

A fish out of its water

Directions all besmudged

A grammatical word squatter

Wayward, but carrying on

Still no-where to be found

The cow bell when the band has gone

singing; bringing in the clowns

*

I've mis-stepped and I've mis-spoken

Missed the bus and been called out

My feelings left wide open

I know what misplaced is about

Missed the mark and lost my nerve

And the real funny thing is

If you get what is deserved

Misplaced - truly is my biz

*

Now, I don't want you to feel sorry

I worked hard to get me here

I don't need a pity party

Won't see me cryin' in my beer

The truth is, I've found solace

And as silly as that sounds

I can't pretend to be flawless

Somedays, I simply don't want to be found

*

If there ever comes a day

I want to give it another go

I get to make the rules to play

Choose the me I choose to show

But I can guarantee

I'll make my return, well rounded

I'll like the me you see

I'll be transparent and well grounded

*

Give the people pleaser in me

At least a couple days of rest

And tell the powers that may be

That this is me, doing my best