black

“wear more colorful clothes”

“those are too colorful”

“change your pants”

“do you need that much black”

“that music sounds scary”

“that’s kind of dark”

“why are they wearing masks”

“why are you writing on yourself”

“who are you talking to”

“why are you wearing a mask”

“you’re never getting a tattoo”

“you ruin everything!”

ever heard these?

all the time?

sometimes?

seem to be my life

seem to be a way

for tonight, and today

a way of being hated

a way of being misunderstood

a way of being uncared for

a way of being cared for

who are these people?

the ones that say these awful, terrible things

from your friends? your parents?

when you thought you were safe under their wing.

it’s scarier inside the home

then it is in the “big” world

this is an unacceptable way for you,

for me, for us to live in.

and i’m finally speaking up.