too cold.

growing up was easy when
i felt the same way as
the parents who fed me
breakfast before sunday school.

conflicts were quenched
when breaking curfew meant
staying out a bit too late
with daughters of family friends.

prayers passed by my lips
with ease when i failed
to see that they were little
more than sermon lessons echoing.

i take a look in the mirror
and realize that i've let
this hand-me-down jacket
decide who i've always been.