Where did your smile go?

Calm
Unsteady
Arrogant
Unstable

Proud
Dressy
Stubborn
Loquacious

Gossip
Too happy
Too quiet
Wicked

Kind
Emotional
Strong
Weak

They call you names
At your back
And you let it define you
And take away your smile

You're self conscious
You want to meet their standards
More professional
You want to seem better

But you're more
You will always be more
To them and to everyone else

You will always be too "happy"
Too "emotional"
Too "quiet"
Too "every possible adverb in the world"

Too You

And for others,
You will be less

Less "perfect"
Less "rich"
Less "fashionable"
Less "every qualifying verb ever"

So why do you try?

You will always be too extreme for others

So why please them?
Why reduce your smile?
Why do you no longer laugh out loud?
Why do you reduce your words?

I miss your smile
And I miss your words
Your silly jokes
And long stories

Can you bring them back?
You never needed to meet anyone's standards

So please be you
Everyday.
Everytime.

When they're talking
And when they're watching

Confidently
Stubbornly
Rebelliously
Happily

You.