the boundary

the critics spoke,

and at first she listened.

 

and at first she defended,

and at first she questioned,

and at first she wondered why.

 

the one that was so quiet,

had so much to say,

behind the safety of another.

 

criticism to be passed from one,

to another,

to her.

 

but to her it was

a critic.

 

and she could no longer

see the line drawn

between

the constructive

and the afraid.

 

and when

 

she realised she had

only considered “i”

and not “they”

and not how what “they” said

reflected “them”

and not “her”

 

she picked up the pencil

 

and drew the line

 

and placed those whose

reflections

reflected “them”

and not “her”

on one side,

 

and those who could

accept

“her” challenge

on the other.

 

beside her.

 

because what

those on the other side

had said

had never really reflected

“her”

but “them”,

 

and she no longer

would be reduced

for their comfort.

 

– a.