Start critical projects,
at least ones critical to others —
don’t let anyone down, ever;

set appointments
far out, far in advance, kill to keep them —
don’t let anyone down
ever;

promise people you’re fine, don’t
let anyone down ever;

keep your misgivings within
and don’t let anyone know, or let anyone down
ever;

agree to dates and marriages and children
and don’t let anyone down ever, especially not 
a partner or spouse or child, and your parents
should be on that special list too;

accept everything
people want for you — you wouldn’t want to let them 
down, of course;

get one of those jobs where you can’t
let anyone down; 

find a decent enough God to believe in
and never let that God down, ever, that’s the worst
thing you can do, letting God down;

butterfly walk
and panther dance
and smile smile smile
in the mirrored windows of the downtown stores
as you walk by in just-right-clothes and shoes
and tight strides
and never let your hands fly up awkwardly —
don’t let the passers-by down,
don’t shake them up
with a failure out there;
it’s one thing to do it
at home alone early AM
if no one can see you
in a private, dimlit space, or perhaps
in the same space at midday
in sunshine kept thin by old blinds,
failing alone with no one to see,

but letting everyone down in public even if only
in the company of one or two?  Never.  Ever.
Don’t do that.  

Go now.
You’ll survive a pretty long time like this.
It won’t be forever.

Don’t worry.
It won’t be forever.