By Now, Society
By now, society, we should be talking
not whispering around the edges of my name
You should be learning my shape
not arguing with my shadow
You should be accepting your loud son
the one who does not fit quietly into rooms
the one who arrives like weather
uncontained
untranslated
Society, who are you
to grab me firmly
to fasten my tie with harshness
and throw me to the feet of corporate giants
to be devoured
With you, there is no joy
only perfection
and performance
You gift your infants
cold steel bars
and numbers in place of warmth
teaching them early
to trade being alive
for being approved
I was not made for your silence
nor your submission
nor your design
I am not your product
not your performance
not your perfection
I am the voice you tried to refine
and I remain uncontained