No More

I laugh too loudly. “No more.” Their scolds and their thrashings take my laughter away. I talk too much. “No more.” Their glares and sharp punishments take my voice away. I play too roughly. “No more.” Their shaming looks and angry lectures take my fun away. I draw too much. “No more.” Their spiels and their disapproval take my art away. I dream too much. “No more.” Their reality and ambitions take away my fantasies. I stick out too much. “No more.” Their intolerance and critique take away my originality. I’m too introverted. I’m too quiet. I’m too demure. I’m too inept. I’m too serious. I’m too common. Why don’t you choose? No more, no more, no more! That’s all you say! Nothing that I do is good enough. Well, no more. No more beatings. No more rebukes. No more limits. Just freedom. No more you. More me.