how many licks does it take

how many licks does it take to get to me?
to get to the center of me?
am I brown and chocolatey inside?
or am I like the old one that is hard to chew
and ends up ripping out your teeth.

how many tears does it take to make me strong?
to get to my inner strength?
Do I have to cry to show my strength?
or am I strong before the tears begin to flow?
strong enough to know I am weak.

how many poems does it take to empty my mind?
to get it all out of me?
am I full of words and exploding?
or am I like a dictionary that is never complete
and ends up being some fool's life work.

how many belly laughs does it take to cheer me up?
to make this cloudy day fade?
am I a storm of emotions inside?
or am I like a weather system that passes
and leaves behind destruction and creation in its path.

how many classes will it take to make me who I am?
to teach me all there is to learn?
am I who I am already?
or is that learned
like a habit over time.