Excuse me
if I'm in no mood for
respectability politics.  

We should not have to be
shiny happy people
holding hands
for you to
value my humanity.

I am not your pusher
I am not your *****

I will not stand aside
and hold the door

While you climb
and push me to the margins:
     • skip my footnote
     • ignore my humanity
     • take the credit
and more

I will not sit back
(hide my pain)
While you continue to
Slander my name
(steal my flame)

A desire for:
     •Equality
     •equity
     •fairness...
You fake.

My fire/my heart
Our creations/our art
**You take.