I can’t stand
The foreboding feeling
Of the wall
That stands between
You and me
When we don’t greet
Each other
And acknowledge
Our shared humanity.
Hello.

I’m learning
A new language
To express
The universe of beauty
That’s been bottled up
In my chest
All this time.

It takes a while.
It’s never been
Uttered before.
Yet it is made
Of sounds spoken
By all of us.

Everyone has a universe
Of beauty Within them.
Some just learn
The language
To express it
Easier than others.

Grinding teeth
Biting lips
Picking skin
Rubbing feet
Twirling hair

All my attempts
To soothe myself
When I feel
I don’t belong
In a place

When someone
Compliments something
You’ve been working on
And now your shine
Is showing
Don’t discredit
Your efforts with
False modesty
Tell them
Thanks for noticing.
I’ve been working on
Shining light into that cave.
And
‘I know, right?’

Emotions
Are my ancestors’ way
Of looking out for me

There is power
In feeling small, insignificant, weak

A power
That people on top
Don’t get to know

A power
That unifies
The people
Who have had to pretend
To be something else
To succeed

The power lies
In using the understanding
To relate
To your fellow humans
And help them out
Of that dark place

I ask
“Are we going dancing?”
Because
“Can we send our souls soaring together?”
Is too much for you to handle,
Yet.

The pain
I gladly endure
To experience
Life
Through these eyes

I am looking
For the person
Who makes me feel
Even more free
To be myself

Who isn’t living his life
To match an image
Implanted in his head
But is feeling life
Every day
And acting on his reality

Who understands people
Are struggling
To feel loved and accepted
In this world
And that our duty
Is to unite humanity more