Fluttering regularly, brought up again and again
Recently asked, do I look back favorably
No to the first footsteps down the hall
No to my parents, suffocating my imperfections

Never good enough, in all ways, failing to please
But not them. They saw, they accepted
Me at my lowest, me at my best
All of them, in one way or another, gave validation

To them, almost all, there is a strange fondness
Illegal, wrong, corrupting, grooming, conditioning me
With them, I found freedom, acceptance, purpose
They molded me, yes, but they saved me as well