The State of the World

A Poem

Photo by Flavio Gasperini on Unsplash

i’m always on the losing end
of a gamble at love —
never taking home the prize
of your heart beating for mine

i’m always on the far end
of the pool of sensations —
always missing the clues,
never making the hard calls

i’m always taking, taking
with nothing left to give —
and you wonder why i’m sad
because food’s become a luxury

i’m always waiting on answers
from the people who claim to know
how to save the universe —
but no one’s coming to save us

i’m always on edge, unsure,
of which path to take —
and it would be so much easier
if i had a map in my brain

i’m always disappointing,
especially for boys like you —
but maybe i need a better mirror
or a better sense of self-worth

i’m trying to be the best i can be
while the world tries to tear me down,
but i placed my bets on you, just…