ambition hides 

behind the anxiety 
the red light
dimmed behind the bushes
 
comfort is a familiar 
outdoor cat that comes up 
to the door, begging 
for scraps 
 
i was designed 
to bust through 
these walls around 
my heart 
not build them higher 
 
tucked my features
behind cardboard cutouts 
of emotions 
hoping no one is 
keeping a score
to a game i don’t 
understand