If Nothing Grows

How do you tell the difference,

Between strength and blind stupidity,

Between strength and weakness,

How do you tell the difference.

When all we're shown is quote pictures and conflicting opinions,

How do you decide when you're standing strong and when you're being used,

When is it love and when is it a ruse,

and how do you choose.

When does it become something you need to let go of,

As a opposed to something you'll lose.

I always see the best in you,

The question is when is it real, when is it true.

How often is the person I see in my head the real you,

And not just someone I made up based on the potential I see in you.

When does standing by you transition to tolerating you.

Because at a young age I taught myself "Examine what you tolerate,"

But I was also shown in this world that good people make mistakes,

That even the best people do things that aren't great.

How long do you hold on through the bad times before,

Before holding on just becomes giving you the chance to do more.

When do I have to say enough is enough and close the door.

I can stop sweating the small stuff, ignore that for the 100th time you forgot to do that same chore,

But when your words cut me to my soul, to my core and I sit wondering is it supposed to be like this?

Or if out there there's more,

But the grass isn't always greener,

But are phrases like this the fear that keeps us,

The keys to battling rough patches,

Or justifications for the disrespectful ways that people treat us,

Better the devils we know,

I don't know but, I suppose.

Because there's nothing slithering through the grass on the side that we're used to,

Nothing unknown, If nothing grows.