Subtract to Fly

Silent whispers in the night,

Questions rising, shining light.

Lost in thoughts, a distant sea,

Who am I, and what do I see?

Kids today, a different style,

Breaking rules, running wild.

Discipline's a faded hue,

Is it me or is it you?

Balancing the scales, what’s right, what’s wrong?

Walking on the edge, questioning all along.

Responsibility or escape, which do I choose?

Caught in a world I can't refuse.

Why add weight when I seek to fly?

Subtract the burdens, reach the sky.

Maybe I’m lost, maybe I’m free,

Seeking answers only I can see.

Psychopath or just misunderstood?

Living heavy or feeling good?

One day they'll comprehend,

The need to bend, the need to bend.

In the silence, find my way,

Maybe someday they will say,

That in my solitude I found,

A different path, profound.

Seen it all, the rise and fall, seeking truth in a crowded hall

Growing wiser, learning fast, shadows of the past that last

They ask for validation, but it's just manipulation, a twisted foundation

Why chase approval from those who bring me down?

Their words like arrows, piercing, causing doubt and pain

I'm stronger now, I see the game, no longer caught in shame

Fighting for my peace, release the chains, breaking free from vain

Validation's hollow, I don’t need their praise, I found my way

Living in my truth, come what may, I won’t be swayed

Lessons learned in silence, strength in defiance, finding my alliance

They seek to destroy, but I reclaim, my worth, my voice, my flame

No more playing their game, I’ve risen from the ashes, reclaimed my name

Let their words fall away, I’ve found my own way

I'm stronger now, I see the game, no longer caught in shame

Fighting for my peace, release the chains, breaking free from vain

Validation's hollow, I don’t need their praise, I found my way

Living in my truth, come what may, I won’t be swayed

Age has brought clarity, a new perspective, a liberating view

I don’t need their approval, just staying true to what I do

Now I understand, I hold my stand, walking tall on shifting sand

Their words don’t define me, I’m finally free, embracing what I am