Selin - Poem #1 - Never Good Enough

“Try harder!” they scream

As sweat runs down my back.

My arms and legs jiggling,

I stop and double over.

My head spinning,

My stomach rising,

My lungs devoid of air.

They only watch,

With furrowed brows,

Disappointment in their eyes,

“You can do better than that!”

In between coughs,

Words struggle out of my mouth

“I’m doing my best,

I can’t run harder.”

Their reply is a knife

Hissing, “Your best

Isn't good enough."