Downward glances

We forget we struggled

our speech has become perfected

our walk easy

We forget we were once learning

slurring words together

falling down

We forget we struggled

the pictures capture smiles

happy endings are recorded

We forget we were once fighting ourselves

broken homes

layoffs

We forget we struggled

we have degrees, qualifications

the proper supplies to begin

we forget we were once lost

failed tests

endless confusion

We forget we struggled

the walk wasn't easy

there were bumps along the way

Happiness was an idea

we thought we could get to someday

Learning was a process

with confusion and more questions

We forget we struggled

we can't remember slurring

we don't recall falling

It's a pretty picture we've created

for ourselves, our lives, our nation

that we hold high in our memory

We are the winners

the losers, forgotten

Lost like memories of confusion, doubt, failure

hopelessless forgotten

We put on our mask, replacing the hard times with confidence, smiles, purpose

After all,

we don't slur

we don't fall

we haven't been broken

we've never failed

we don't slur

we don't fall

We don't fail. We don't mess up. We don't fight. We don't get hopeless. We don't fall.

And we don't want those who do.

We don't understand.

We've hidden any tools we may have had to remember. Put them under the pedestal where we put ourselves and our livelihood