The Main Ingredient

If my life was viewed as empty by others,
but I saw it as full,
and if they told me it was boring,
yet I could tell millions of stories,
what would that be called?
What would I name it?

Could I say I had a great imagination
because of the adventures that no one ever witnessed?
Or tell them they didn't know me at all?

Because I remember so clearly
that I always had a book to read and things to do,
worksheets to solve,
and nature-filled afternoons.

If my life was as full as could be,
but others called it empty,
would their lives be called empty by others too?

Because I had love, friendships, siblings, and parents.
A dog or two—now three.

Was my life really empty,
or are you trying to make it seem that it was?

And when you went out to party,
I sat at home feeling loved.

And when you left for school,
no one said goodbye.

But when I woke up,
I was met eye to eye,
and sometimes with a hug.

Was my life empty, or yours?

When I'm sheltered from storms,
and you go out to chase them,

was my life really boring,

or was your life missing the main ingredient—

Love?