The Effort Of Beauty

the shut down came easy

she thought there’d be more of a fight

but that burden of pleasing

left her feeling contrite

like a butterfly's cocoon

shed the weight off her shoulders

or a child’s lost balloon

a sad relief, that it’s over

left the guilt far behind

for another to find

all the pressure and grind

for something softer and kind

now she tends to her heart

her own personal gardener

pruning, the hardest part

she didn’t know much about her

but she was willing to learn

she knew deep down, she was worth it

all the bridges she burned

to protect and move past it

to look at her now

nobody would know

the what and the how

all she’s had to let go

her smile and her beauty

is now all you can see

my journey and duty

of setting me free