dear mama, i am afraid

that this world will take

and take and take and take

until i have nothing left

i am not a girl, not a person

no, i am nothing at all

you say, “don’t speak, just listen”

to all the boys and men

give them what they want

“don’t speak, don’t swear”

“don’t whine, don’t cry”

a lifetime full of don’ts

mama, what can i do?

i’ll close my eyes and kiss good bye

everything i believe to be true

i’ll bleed inside and want to die

silence for purple and blue

ignore my instincts to scream and run

and plunge into this world pretending

that i am not afraid

but i am afraid, mama

i am so afraid

of becoming just like you.