Don’t be afraid to be real my love,

Don’t be afraid to be the same inside out.

Don’t be afraid to peek inside and say this is me,

Don’t be afraid to say it out loud.

Don’t wait for the world to tell you who you need to be,

To tell you that it is time to spread your wings

Or that it is time to throw care to the winds.

Don’t wait for faces without features to stop you in an alley or a brightly lit emporium

And tell you which version of yourself you need to bring forth next.

If you wait for the world to tell you that,

You will be version 1 to 100 or a zillion in parts and pieces,

And forget to cry when you are sad or laugh when you find joy.

If the world knew what it was telling you, remember,

There wouldn’t be so many versions of itself in the first place!

Don’t be afraid to take that puff of smoke or that whiff of dope

Don’t be afraid to make sheep eyes at someone you like

Or may be even take a step forward.

Definitely do not be afraid of not knowing how to or when to pull back

From an event that you created, one that the world frowns upon.

Your life is your own,

Just as the many facets of you that only you yourself own.

Don’t regret what you have done, its better than not having done anything at all,

Especially at the diktat of the world or a redundant value system that belongs in an old grave.

Be afraid of not being able to smile or cry or flirt or even try some heady intoxication

Cause it is in those episodes of intoxication of various sorts

That you find life in different shades and at various depths.

Be afraid of crying when you want to giggle

Or smirking when you see someone breaking those shackles to be real

Be afraid if you can’t be real, and definitely be afraid if you cant see yourself in you!