No Figment Am I Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

No figment am I to contrive to fit,
Fabricated concoctions...
To be picked and devise as is wished.
Nor am I a concept,
Of an imagined existence.
I am with flaws this I do admit.
Flaws some may insist,
Are character blemishes to believe I should feel...
A need to correct defects in my appearance.

I ask for no acceptance,
Or approval where I may place my steps.
I have yet to ask permission,
When to inhale to then exhale...
Before I take my next calm breath.
Nor am I dependent upon anyone else,
To remove obstacles I face.
With expectations they will prioritize,
That which I dislike to have erased.
Without debating,
If I chose something better to replace it.
God and I have already had that discussion.
With me left to learn this lesson...
Sobbing uncontrollably does not persuade God.
And threats to strip butt naked publicly?
Only a fool would do that. One time proves it.

I wish I could say,
I have lived my life avoiding mistakes to make.
But I do know I have been guided,
Away from negativity and self defeat.
To recognize immediately the creators of misdeeds.
Only a fool would do that to be deceived.
One time proves it.