Mockingbirds

Mockingbirds are known for their ability to mimic the calls of other birds

Using their voices as a way to deceive others

Perfectionism is a mockingbird that constantly jeers

Interrupting any rational thought with its incessant noise

It takes the voices of others

Projecting its expectations as their own

As your own

The bird expects nothing less than success and fame

In order to compensate for the tragedy of being human

Of being imperfect

Mockingbirds use their calls to scare others

Driving them away to prevent them from seeing how small and fragile it truly is

Perfectionism expects nothing less than the impossible

And screeches when it gets less

“Work harder and you’ll be better!”

“You’re worthless if you constantly make mistakes.”

“You’ll never be anything worth loving.”

Its cackles drive one mad

But no one around can hear its song

One thinks that such a small, frail being could never be detrimental

A problem simply remedied

However, no demon is ever expelled with ease

And the bird truly is malicious

For its power lies not in the sharpness of its claws or its beak

But in the scathing sting of its cries

Convincing one that what it wants is aligned with what everyone they love wants

A species’ main purpose is to survive

And the mockingbird has done well

Their population has exploded

Now everyone’s in hell