confessions of a child star

i used to be amazing
bright brilliant
beyond expectations
special classes
yeah
i used to be special
talented sharp
cutting through curricula

i even won awards
scholarships
prizes
certificates
medals
ribbons

so many badges of honour
little trinkets declaring my worth
talismans

acclaim heaped upon acclaim
and then adolescence yawned
suddenly
slowly
i wasn't so great any more
i was less that great
i wasn't special
i was worthless

all those totems
turned token
plastic
paper
cheap and meaningless
bottom of the box
middle of the road
ahead of the curve but only
just
average
plain
old
average