what would a world be
without defined beauty
as media defines it
how would that come to be?

every baby on earth
has worth
beauty
how it should be
but nobody knows
what beauty means
you don't see it in a mirror
though your mirror is you
that's beauty to
you see it in a dream

in the darkest of worlds
she stands up tall
in each and every fairy tale
she is fairest of them all

you see beauty in a pure heart
every night going to bed knowing you've play'd your part
and she has
i'm proud to be me
"i don't want you to stand up for me
i want you to stand beside me"
Lizzie Velasquez

i'm with you Lizzie

And I'm on my own again
Lord knows how long it's been
Guess I'll keep on hangin' on
To what's already gone

Only thing Ive learned how to do,
Is live without you

But I don't want to.
I don't want to.

we can all pretend we’re perfect
that church ain't worth it
that drugs and alcohol make us worthy
wait
worthy of what a debate?
so what’s on your plate?
nothing but emptiness and hate
and that’s great
at least i know why you treat me this way
so here’s to saying i’m no different
drugs and alcohol
i’m with them
and i can’t change even if i tried
but wait
what do i have to change
you don’t even know me
but you pretend i’m the only one who’s gone through the worst
me?
i’m flattered but
you see
i’m just a stereotype
trying to get past
but i get beat down by the headlights
i’m a drive by
trying to drive by my future
but i can’t
because my past is trying to tell me that i’m horrible
but i can’t
i can’t stand that people try to tell me who i am
i can’t stand that i’m horrible
for telling you who i am
and on land
i’m a bad influence
but in water
i’m the man
you don’t understand
that i’m a fish trying to find it’s way in the ocean
and those mistakes
are just my gills
i breathe them in and stop breathing
because someone is always pulling me out of water
it’s like the Mexican border
Protected by what's within
it’s a sin
for me to be where i’m supposed to be
but see
it’s not me
it’s the stereotype
and its trickery
it makes you think that you know me
but what you don’t see
THAT’S NOT THE WORST THING THAT’S HAPPENED TO ME
so let me be
let me speak
i have to get it out of me
that hate in my gills shouldn't be there when i breathe
so go ahead and stereotype
but i’m not the only one who has to get something off my chest
but i’m the best
because I've made it through every test
and though you think you can bring me down
I've made it through every test
**so let me speak before you think i’m just the same as the rest

I dive in the human sea.
Only a small water drop
In the dripping crowd.

The infinite ocean rages
The endlessly mass rears up
Like a gathering thunderstorm.
Seething, sinister alike as soothing.

The thundering, mighty tsunami
devours me, wreathes me,
lets me be a part of
the force of nature,
gives me strength,
makes me feel like
I'm invincible.

I drift and float
Until I'm weightless
And drowned..

I sit and watch with a distance.
Everything rushes through me in an instant.
All I can do is quietly grin...and resent you.
Forgetting is easier said, than actually comming through.
Old wounds were bound and broken.
I'm left here with words untouched...unspoken.
Another scar shows, as I slowly heal.
It'll always be there: a reality shield.
There is no moving foward when your attached by a string.
It's like life on a treadmill, no matter how thin.
Like that miniscule piece of thread,
That hangs there, with a pull it may spread.
But in most cases it won't break or tear...
It's just a little piece that will always be there.

I write to make things make sense for me.
Even if what I write is about you, it never is, really.
Writing is the one thing I allow myself to do just for me.
So much chaos, and such a desperate need to see clearly.
Putting traumatic events and rollercoaster emotions down in writing, down in order, helps more
than letting nagging thoughts eat me alive behind my brain's closed door.

He lets me get broke...
Just to make me richer
He lets me get weak...
Just to make me stronger
He lets me look foolish...
Just to express His wisdom.

He crushes mighty-warlord Goliaths
With a shepherd boy, a sling and a stone!
He frightens entire Syrian armies
With four lepers, no RPGs, no riffles!
He teaches kings "Humility For Dummies"
By making ***** out of Nebuchadnezzars.

I ponder some of the things He does
Terrible! But I find them amusing
And while I chuckle at His wondrous works
I'm reminded that He loves me dearly
And He added a touch of humor to the bible
To express His lovely smile on my unworthy face!*


© Raphael Uzor