Carrots

Listening,

Watching,

Silently begging,

For more.

The trail

Of breadcrumbs.

Waiting,

Until it’s good [safe],

Again.

Sharing,

And teaching,

But just enough.

To leave me,

Wanting more,

Needing more,

Requiring more.

Basic information.

What to do, when.

Why to do, what.

Where to find, that.

Kept for

Themselves.

For power.

To be

Better than.

I trusted you.

I trusted

More,

Than I was

Supposed

To.

Dangling before,

My eyes,

And everyone else.

There

Were pieces.

Nuggets.

Fragments.

Slices.

Crumbs.

That we learned to

Fight over.

Breeding competition.

Because it’s all

A game.

A game,

Of carrots.

Whoever gets

The most, wins.

Never

Winner winner,

Chicken dinner.

Always,

Dangled carrots.

Survival of the

Fittest.

In the end,

It’s a journey.

A mental “game.”

Forged with fortitude,

And courage.

Life is meant to be

Experienced.

Not played.

Like animals.

After all.