be careful
don't speak too loudly
keep your sentences clipped.
short and sweet
is the way to go.
conflict is terrifying
it makes your body go numb
causes the gears in your head to rust
all of your thoughts come to an
ugly
screeching
halt.
go quiet.
it was just a joke.
why can't you be in on it?
just force a laugh out of your lungs,
oil the corner of your lips so they can
twist
into an involuntary smile.
why can't you be like the other people?
your pain doesn't matter
your suffering
doesn't need to be brought up every second.
give into the hilarious stereotypes that haunt you
every time you get looks on the train
or when security follows you in a store
or when someone like you is shot
or murdered
or *****.
don't be such a square.
just
laugh about it.