We tell children to be creative
Think outside the box
But then we shape them into the same people  from the same mold
Tell them to paint inside the lines
All the same color
Tell them holding their heads too high snaps their necks
Make them into copies of each other
All the same color
Mother I want my elephants to fly
And my ducks painted in every single color
Just like my sister painted when she was three
I want my books from a world we don’t know
And my poetry to rhyme only when it wants to
I want to paint my words
Not in the same way others have
While appreciate what other people painted their words with
As long as we have different bloods running through our veins
We will always be different
But we all have blood running through our veins
To remind us that we are the same
Remind us to appreciate each other without putting each other down
I want my skies pink
And my grass purple
I want my coffee to smell like roses
And my tea to smell like the earth
My wine to taste like the moon
And my box to be the universe
And whatever is beyond
I want the universe in every soul to grow
And glow
And make this place a little less dark
And I want my ducks in every color
Just like my sister painted