distant laughter in poetry

the gods do wait to delight in you.
not a manufactured you but you.
not a most hireable you but you.
the best of you.
no varnish on top of you.
no resume exaggerations.
no photoshop airbrush tweaks.
you.
that is for whom the gods await.
they will glory in you only
when you strip all that wax
and paint and pain away
only when you’ve burnt out
all the compromises and
all the concessions and
all the times you’ve held your tongue
naked and without shame
new-born and bereft of blame
only then will they beam in earnest
at the calling of your name.
only then.
until the moment you become
all that you actually are
they’ll give you only
sideways glances at best.
let go.
allow yourself to be that joy.
let go.