My Choice

The opportunity has always been there,

Tantalizingly close to my fingertips. 

The time has come 

To climb the ladder  

And grasp my guiding star.

I have the ability to choose my direction,

To make a course correction if necessary, 

And I choose to move on.

I will never be content 

To live in the shadows of life. 

I want my opportunity to blossom, 

To stand in the sun and have my day, 

To seek the applause 

I so desperately want to hear,

If only for just one moment.  

I am tired of suffering in silence. 

Let me sing once again with the breaking morn.  

I cannot continue the way things have been.  

I know that staying the course 

Is a sure path to suicide 

And I will not surrender anymore.

I will not cede my power 

To some bullying tyrant 

Holding me hostage in my own life.

This is my life.

This is my choice.

I choose me.

~~~ This poem was written in response to a prompt from Poetry Jam asking us to write about choices.