A child at 6 years old shouldn’t have to worry
whether or not her parents still love each other,
or if she is even loved at all.

At 10 my son shouldn’t have to worry
about being too weak to fit in with the other boys.
He shouldn’t have to pretend to enjoy football;
he shouldn’t ever have to pretend like he doesn’t have feelings.
My daughter shouldn’t have to hide
her athleticism in front of the other girls.
She shouldn’t be afraid of being strong and loud and fierce.

At 12 my niece shouldn’t have to worry
about hiding her trainer bra straps because they are
“distracting” in the classroom. She shouldn’t have to
bring a cardigan to school when it’s June and 80 degrees out.
She shouldn’t have to wear pants when there are boys
who can show up in gym shorts and Under Armor shirts.

At 15 my son should be comfortable with his gender identity,
no matter how he was born. He shouldn’t have to deal
with people calling him a “tomboy” and “freak.”

At 19 I shouldn’t have to have the mentality where
if I don’t do well on this exam then I don’t do well in the class
then I won’t get a good degree and I won’t get a good job
and I won’t be able to make my wife and kids happy
and I spiral down in a haphazard free-fall of insecurity.

The list goes on and on, where we ought to be too young to have existential worries, but we’ve all become too old to simply smile at them.

"You'll find someone better"
I'm positive that every letter of that saying is correct
But, when can you detect that you have reached the best
Because of that, I hate this phrase
I hate it more than the people that cast me away
and the fact that all they can say is "You'll find someone better"
But what if they're the one you're supposed to be with forever?
What do you do when you have reached the best?
How about when that special guest checks out of the hotel heart-in-my-chest?
But, don't worry, I'll find someone better
Someone that will give me their only sweater in the blistering cold
Bold enough to not be ashamed of me
that sees past my imperfections
consistent enough to fill the sections in the story of my life
to treat me right without giving it a price
but what about when that person flees like the red leaves of fall?
What if that person never comes back?
"You'll find someone better"

He could cut his name into my skin
And I wouldn't mind
Because I would be his

He could rip out my blonde locks
And I wouldn't mind
Because he would run his fingers through my hair

He could slap me
And I wouldn't mind
Because his palms would caress my cheeks

He could curse my name
And I wouldn't mind
Because my name would leave his lips

With both of us standing
Infront of the guillotine,
Why did you take her
Instead of me?

I'm trying to find the reason.
Why did I deserve to live?
What kept me here
And took her away?

I'm not even close
To deserving half a life.
But she did nothing wrong,
Still she's the one you took.

Maybe it's survivors guilt,
And maybe i'm being stupid.
But I don't understand,
Why God would take a soul like hers
And leave me to live.