A Penguin can’t fly.

The poor flightless bird, confined to the land and sea, with wings weighing it down: gravity.

Me.

The girl who dreams to be a penguin, yet fly,

confined not by land and sea, but by those who focus on my—

my hair,

how much I care,

according to how much I am willing to share.

But is that really fair?

I can’t be summed up by my style,

or what information and memories you find about me in a file.

Those supplemental sources of information cannot share anything truly worthwhile.

So I’m caught.

Caught in a web of ought-

Who I ought to be

What I ought to do

Where I ought to go

What I ought to wear

Things I ought to say

Likes I ought to get-

On Facebook,

In the yearbook,

In person.

Everything,

I do and be,

is not for me,

but for he and she.-

The invisible people I’ve yet to meet

Walking up and down the street

Sizing me up within a minute

But here’s the thing: they don’t get it.

I am more than what you see,

I am more than you assume me to be.

My photos and their witty description

can not pin,

cannot define my potentiality,

my complete diversity.

Yes, I have a bubbly personality,

and I am known for my accountability.

I tend to enter every activity,

and I embrace absolute absurdity.

But you picking and choosing what you decide defines me, is artificiality.

I.

 Am.

 Limitless.

I am all that you see,

yet there’s more to me.

More, than I can even see.

I am a strong leader, but I am also a strong listener.

I am friendly, but I am also someone who tends to tread lightly.

I am kind, but I am also someone who will speak their mind.

I am a little bit strange, but I am also someone who will “be the change”.

So take a look,

Login to Facebook.

Scroll through your Instagram.

Because frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn-

How you see me.

Your conceptions and misconceptions of my ultimate reality.

Whether you like me or not, will not change who I choose to be.

I choose to be the Penguin who can fly…

Free.