GSR Poem

Why am I

Flags from left to right: Lesbian, Pride, Bisexual, Transgender, Pansexual. VLAW759, 2020.

I sit upon this bed
In this room that I call mine
I dwell inside this house
But it’s not home, and I’m not fine

I found a sense of purpose
Beyond inhabiting this world
It began with the acceptance
That I’m not quite boy or girl

At first it brought such happiness
I found my desired energy
The friends I’ve made are lifelong
And continue to inspire me

But unfortunately acceptance
Is more than just my pronouns
It’s internal, and it’s external
And leaves me hopeless; unbounded

But these feelings are tempoary
And my future is uncertain
However, with Coronavirus
I’m afraid that things will worsen

Just months ago I was thriving
Growing with each passing day
I started therapy, once again
And opportunties came my way

For once, I wasn’t a failure
At least from my own perspective
But as this pandemic continues
It reveals things this world has neglected

The systems that were created
To serve this Earth’s people
Are quite faulty in nature
Corrupted men create this evil

Unfortunately for anyone
Who is not Caucasian
Will receive quite unfair treatment
In this supposedly great nation

Unfortunately for anyone
Who is not heterosexual
Will go through great pains
To embrace who they truly love

Unfortunately for anyone
Who happens to be transgender
Has gotten their protections removed
In the name of “family standards”

To some, it’s an overstated story
They say we have equality
To me, it’s my everyday
I have no other reality

As COVID-19 continues
Those most vulnerable will suffer
I’ll try to help the most I can
But conditions will get rougher

This won’t just end tomorrow
Though Trump makes it out to be
How about for once in life
We deal with this disease

No, not Coronavirus
(Some of us) are doing all we can
It’s capitalism I’m talking about
That’s truly killing Man

Is it really worth any amount
To sacrifice human life
For the sake of the economy
Think about that more than twice

The systems put in place
Are only there to serve the rich
Without corporations, there’s community
Please, just picture this

We seem to have forgotten
How we dealt with those who wronged us
No, we didn’t need police
We looked to those around us

We gave our all to our families
Our friends, and our communities
We can still do that in this world
But that doesn’t help society

This world is not accepting
Of its peoples’ different natures
Bodies, skin colors, even genders
These things still separate us

You can try to make some changes
Help some people out
But at the end of every single day
The Patriarchy tears us down

I suppose I should say “It tries to tear”
For some of us rise above
We live our truths, no matter the cost
True bravery comes from love