Please 
don’t listen
to your ruthless 
inner critic

The one
who forever wishes 
you’d quit already
even after all these years

The one 
who tells you 
you’re not good enough
for greatness

The one 
who casts seeds
of doubt 
with every breath

Please
I beg of you
hold on to reality

Do not sit
and dine 
at a table of lies

The lies 
that dare
attempt to remove
the sword and scepter from your hand

The lies
that scream inadequacy 
in your ears

The lies 
that come to muzzle you

Never

They are persistent
but they are not
prevailing truth

Remember courage
remember the First Voice
and do not
Ever
Give
An
Inch
to anything less

©Elisabeth Cooper 2020