held back by self-doubt

self-doubt

negativity is at least barnacles

that are a burden to carry

and that slow down how fast

you can slip through your life,

negativity is opposition,

and, at its best, can advise you away from a wrong path,

and, at its worst, can advise you away from moving forward at all,

for middle schoolers, those who call me to be a teacher,

the negativity of self-doubt 

becomes hands which can hold them back

from stepping forward into the light,

into being noticed and appreciated,

those not yet in the light fear the darkness around them

and want to spread it

so that all are equal in absence:

how much better it is to step forward and be seen,

the path forward then can become clearer to all,

when more and more find the light

how much better it is than when more and more doubt

and are lost in the darkness.

by Henry H. Walker

January 24, ’14