To The Voices That Say I'm Not Good, I Say...

To the voices that say: "It's crazy to call yourself a success",
I say,
   "There seems to be a crazy here, but it's not me"

To the voices that say "you are not worth it",
I say,
   "I disagree, but I know how you feel"

To the voices that say: "you are fat"
I say,
   "I have substance, and I know how to use it."

To the voices that say: "You have an accent"
I say
   "Yes, and it is elegant"

To the voices that say: "You are just fishing for compliments"
I say
   "I can see how you would see it that way"

To the voices that say: "I wish you would die"
I say,
   "Oh dear! It must be hard to feel so envious

To the voices that say: "There is nothing special about you"
I say,
   "I'm sorry you are short of sight"

To the voices that say: "You will die one day! You know?"
I say,
   "I've died so many times, I'm sure I'll be allright"

To the voices that say "You are not smart enough"
I say,
   "Oh but I am wise! Well beyond my ears.

To the voices that say "Your stomach is too big"
I say,
   "Yes, because I am a beautiful woman"

To the voices that say "You are getting older and you ain't pretty"
I say
   "There is beauty in giving life in new ways, in writing form-in dancing form-in painting form-in speaking word-in yoga pose, in any form!"

To the voices that say "You are not a prodigy and never will be"
I say,
   "Meh"

To the voices that say: "it is not good"
I say,
   "It is"

To the voices that say: "You are not allowed, authorized, permitted"
I say,
   "Oops! Think I lost that memo.

To the voices that say "It has been done"
I say
   "It has not been done with my special touch yet"

To the voices that say "You have no proof"
I say,
   "I don't need proof for what works for me"

To the voices that say "There is no god"
I say,
   "Maybe"

To the voices that say: "You should shut up"
I say,
   "Oh men, you are in for it."

To the voices that say: "Yes you can"  -   I say:   "Thank you!"

To the voices that say "You can trust your voice" -  I say:   "Ahhh, f'course...Duh!"

To the voices that say "keep going, keep trying, keep at it"   -  I say:   "I will! I am!"

To the voices that say "There is talent here"  -  I say: "Yes! You are quite right."

To the voices that say "you are strong" I say:  "Thank you James"

To the voice that says: "Don't publish this, I don't know if you are really the embodiment of this", I say "Publish"