i sit

take these crude insults

as if the very being of who I am

is a fault

in your eyes

how can this prejudice be justified?

that every word that tumbles from

your limpid lips is a lie?

your mouth shaped like a dagger.

names thrown at me

violence through your voice

sending me back, involuntary stagger

and I might cry through these times

seeing my brothers

and sisters

suffering from inhumane

hate crimes

and these won't stop

until all this animosity that

consumes our culture,

devours our youth,

and our children

has been

dropped.

I will not let you see

my hardship.

will not let your words

rip

at my soul

with the weapons in which

we've been equipped by our

leaders.

those who taught us what we know

the people that raise us up

who stand oblivious

to the hate that they nurture

and within us grows

our society,

needs some variety

we can't all be the same

so why's it so hard to accept

what's different?

go out and create your own name

don't be ashamed of who you are

step out

step up

and don't worry about taking it

too far

we're waiting for you to cross the line

create controversy in the truths

that you find

on your way through

don't be afraid to make a claim

on what's true

and remember the day

when you

became

you