Realize by Rachel Arruda

Realize

by Rachel Arruda

I woke up

At 7 am

And walk a path

already laid

I go to class

at 8 am

and write

Repeat

Rote memory

And I receive a number

I am Good or Bad

My worth is scored

on a scale

1-5, 1-10, 1-20

I say nothing

because I believe them

I do my job at 5 pm

or 2 pm

or 1 1 am

Whenever I am beckoned

Strings of beautiful days

Pass outside of windows

As I earn my keep

In this world

In my head

Is a small revolution

Brilliance is realized

Time spent traveled

Learned

Productive

Not someone else's Nelly

my own mistress

I wake up

And I know

That I will again

Waste my day

And inside she cries

Know she will never

Come out.