Pushing Buttons

Minding my business and doing my thing

Next thing you know, they’re giving me a ring

Calling for attention cuz they always need more

Every story they tell only makes me snore

As well as I read them, they think they know me too

Watching and waiting, trying to get a clue

About what I’m up to or where I’m going

Deep in my gut, I trust my inner knowing

Pushing my buttons to see how far they can go

Wanting the reaction to go toe to toe

Showcasing their ego and superiority

Only they themselves are their first priority

If they don’t tell you outright they’ll say it through their actions

Telling their groupies, homies and family factions

They better than me because they can’t believe

That we’re all equals with different dreams

Learning and watching to get under my skin

Got to throw this trash out, make sure it drops in the bin

All they’re doing is being a bully

Now I understand and can see it fully

It took a lot of healing for me to be feeling

Used to numb myself out and they used to be dealing

Started to peel back all of the layers

It wasn’t easy to stop listening to all the naysayers

Patterns learned from when we were wee ones

I pulled the plug cuz I was just done

They like to pretend that I’m the villain

Truth is, I’m the fun one and it’s my vibe they’re killin’

Tries to say I’m calling them names

Because they don’t realize they’re all the same

Demons can’t ever admit when they are wrong

Facts and definitions are no one’s siren song

Working and trying to turn my lights off

While I’m climbing my mountain, they just scoff

Driving to the edge, wants me to plead and beg

Not going back, too much has been said

Talking so loud I swear the neighbors can hear

Running their mouth to friends that are near

Anything loud to make their ego known

All I see is that their cover’s been blown

Trying new tricks to see what sticks

Didn’t I already say my oil is slick?

Reacting and running for the new thing to do

Try again fool, this ain’t elementary school glue

Pay them no mind, though they want all my dimes

Got to say thank you, pushing start to all these rhymes

Am I at the circus ‘cuz they wear a great mask

Giving a show and trying to fill up my empty flask

Pushing my buttons for all to see

Not stooping to their level, it’s my time to be Queen

Never again will I love a toxic

All that I’ve learned taught me to block it

Sighing and huffing, then stomping their feet

Burping out loud, never missing a beat

Childish actions don’t make me favor

Their darkness shows up as ugly behavior

Humming and lying for a cheap thrill

None of that takes very much skill

Hidden rage inside their cage

Makes its way out behind the stage

So quick to forget what you just talked about

Are you using again or drinking that stout?

Pushing my buttons for self gain

What you’re doing is unhealthy and inflicting pain.

Leaving it here for all to see

I’m a lover, not a fighter, what will it be?

Finding a way to calm down this mess

There are no winners here, more or less.