M. Hank

Before we bonded

Bullies belittled me

And it broke my heart

Because I felt it in my bones

But now that we belong

With each other's beautifully 

Breathtaking selves

Their words don't break

It is started by a piece of paper

written in blue pen ink

smeared as it is folded twice

passed to a friend.

Purple marker replies to blue pen

folded up the same way as before;

If only i had smiled differently,
worn a different skirt, a longer one,
if i had stayed quiet, let him win,
shrunk smaller, been easier to touch,
been harder to hurt, laughed when i wanted to cry,
cried when i wanted to scream.

Preamble

Technically, I’m an immigrant;  

I wasn't born here. 

Technically, I’m too young, 

just shy of a year. 

Technically, I’m inexperienced, 

barely know the rudiments. 

Even if it was never

About legacy,

Your memory

Cannot mean nothing.

Your family

Should remember you

And admittedly

No matter what we say

This

Is true.

So who

Will speak