Heya! Trying something different today. Lately been doing poems as Aether by Clouds character ideation and was in the mood to draw this one. So poem followed by doodle!

Puppet Strings

I try to be a blank puppet for others
Play whatever role they need me to
Like how my family molded me

I don't feel like I mesh as something 'real' next to everyone
Cracks in my shell, mismatch in my parts
Showing a hideous pantomime of a human

I want so little
To be something that works in the background
Content to be like a background prop

But time and time again
Asked to perform new scripts
Play characters I'm unfit for but others expect

Leading to missteps in the performance
Failing a role I never asked for

They see an actor that doesn't match
Blemishing the whole
Cast wrong from creation

They cut my strings
Say 'It's a chance!'
To finally become a real boy

But I don't understand what the critics want
They give me no cues
Expect me to understand the steps already

'Everybody else did'
'So why not you?'
But I just can't

I need the strings back
I don't need real

Real doesn't make sense
Meanings behind words unnoticed
Messages in gestures not understood

So now what?

Learn a new role
Or get thrown in the woodchipper

But the strings of the roles hurt
They itch, they sting, they burn
It hurts, it hurts, it hurts

Each new string, hollowing my heart
Looking back at the chipper
Thinking if it'd be better there

Maybe one day, I'll just exit the stage
Dive headfirst into those blades
Rend myself into my own finale