Openly Critiqued

For most of my life,
I have paid my own dues.
And collected bruises,
With installments to pay...
Along the way.
This is not hypothetical or myth!
I have kept receipts,
To show and prove what I've done to do.

And for anyone to believe,
They could have easily walked in my shoes...
I have not been in hiding anywhere,
To have that done for them to wear.
But somehow,
The daring for them to do it...
Would open the door for more of their excuses.
And having a fear of being openly critiqued they refuse.

It is much easier to pretend we can be someone else,
Than to actually be that one else who is not pretentious.

poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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