Never Wanted

I never wanted this.

I never wanted to watch slaughter hours per week. I wanted to be a father.

I never wanted to challenge strangers to change their lives. I wanted to write.

I never wanted to measure my life in deaths prevented. I wanted to question.

I never wanted to count hours’ sleep on my hand. I wanted to live.

I never wanted to cut close friends from my circle. I wanted a commune.

I never wanted to race death’s billions per year. I wanted to age.

I never wanted to wield some burden of knowledge. I wanted to learn things.

I never wanted to speak. But I’m privileged with a voice.

So now I want to.

I only ever want to.

I can’t imagine what else I’d want to do.