enough waste.

for lack of words, i should refrain from speaking.
i speak too often only to say nothing
worth hearing.

"but you matter!"
i know i matter.
i take up space just as you do.
but i've called enough people WASTE
to know that's not at all what i want to be.

"you're not a waste! not a waste of space! no matter what you say!"
thank you.
you are kind.
but if my opinion of myself doesn't matter-
your opinion of me matters more-
then surely i am waste either way.
because i don't need you to live.
you don't need me.
not really.

"but people who need people are the luckiest people in the world!"
then you have a fundamental misunderstanding of need.
i don't mean to take your breath away
anymore than i mean to run away...from you.

i know enough of my own value to know
i deserve neither limos nor mud.
i know enough of my own value to know
for how much you'd buy me.

"i'd never buy you!"
no, indeed.
i'm too expensive.

"see, you are priceless!"
price-less.
without price is as good as worthless.
but thank you.
you are kind.

no need to imagine too much worth.
it's just me.

perhaps one day i'll see things from your point of view.
it'll probably be the day you see from mine.