THE PATH OF THORNS

 

Their unflattering stare, both by day and night,

Expecting me to fly.

They plead, Excel-just never drag,

Still, the shadow of apprehension hovers over my head.

Am I good enough? Will they be pleased?

Every test is a hardship, and my soul is paralyzed.

The clock’s ticking, a never-ending race,

I am choking under the unrelenting pace.

Perfect goals equal greatness,

But I long for something else.

When time gets calm, that is only where dread comes into a tackle with,

What if I stumble? What if I’m misled?

A flicker of optimism to keep it in check.

You have a life to rush, to pass the marks.

The midnight’s here, my mind’s disheveled,

Papers scattered; dreams unsettled.

The grades will scream,

Saying this after sacrificing my dream.

In the chase of perfection, I’ve lost my way,

Trading joy for stress, night into day.

Khushbakht Rehman VII Green