I look in the mirror and what do I see,
pure imperfection staring at me,
curiously wondering, wonderfully curious
at what new imperfection I soon will be.

I've found its important not to be perfect
not replace imperfections for better or worse.
it's when we make peace with our faultless defection
that godly perfection starts getting to work

Not everything is perfect
Smooth and silky like your skin
There's a serious defect
You are cold from within

They stare, she smiles,
they grin, she observes.
They pity, she's queasy,
they brood, she walks away--
life as a lady with a crutch.

I smile, they hail,
I step out, they celebrate,
I emit knowledge, they are wowed;
I struggle to fit in, they support.

I try to be unique just as I am, but the struggle within, no one seem to care;
life as a man, a physically challenged survivor.

They celebrate our strength, but our weakness imprisons us,
they profess their love, a love that soon fades away;
they show their care, but we just want to be hale.

They assure us of a bright future-- a future they would never dare to feature in.

They speak, they wish, they support, but we always want more because our defects make us different.

No poem perfect.

  Each word hand-picked.

    Value camouflaged by defect

      Won't be spotted without respect.

You pray on the hurt,
too innocent to know of your tricks;
we know not of the worlds cruelty.
You violate our bodies as you do our rights;
take our freedom,
and take our pride.
But in our grief, we lie to ourselves…
for who would ever dig their nails into us,
like these scars we bear?
We are forever marked
by your sloppy lack of humanity.
We are defects of this world,
Never knowing love, for who,
would want to love a crooked soul?
Sincerely yours,

A Crooked Soul, left broken in Your greed.

Inside me
While you grew and grew
I never knew
Your heart was broken
And that there was one
Where there should’ve been two.

After you were born
The doctor explained
Your lungs wouldn’t last
You were breathing too fast
And growing too slow
Your blood flow was mixed
And you had to be fixed.

So right from the start
Your heart wasn’t whole
But your soul
Was a universe
And your eyes
Were comprised
Of millions of galaxies.
Your body was strong
And your cry was a song.

I named you beloved
And through you, I discovered
For the very first time
I was whole.

Please always remember
You are far more beautiful
Than broken
You are my ultimate inspiration
And I’ll always consider you
My most perfect creation.

Mouse,
You were the new addition to the house,
Over the past year I watched you grow,
Oh how I love you so,
You were my pride,
You still are even after you died,
You were my joy,
My sweet little boy,
Why did you have to go?

So frail you were,
Just a dot of black fur,
Little did we know,
In your lungs grew a great foe.

You ran so strangely,
Like a tottering baby,
But we didn't know,
About the pain you refused to show.

Your eyes,
Flutter closed,
Not knowing what was going on,
Not knowing you were gone,
I hope you hold on tight,
To the clouds above me tonight.

Mouse I love you,
After all you been through,
I hope you rest in peace,
And let your soul release,
To the sweet above,
Followed by my ever lasting love.

I fell from the stars that night
I feared the clouded dark sky
And severed all ties with my world
I collapsed from within
And cried

A Birth called forth my fear
Brought about worry, my tears
For five long months it had built within
Until it happened and I fell to the ground
And cried

An excuse to begin closing my windows
Yet no blame can I place on him
Inwardly broken and frightened of the unknown
That weary cool night, my brother was born,
I cried

No control had been placed in my hands
No one had asked me what I wanted
My God simply had different plans
For my family, for his birth, for when
I cried

Plans that would prove greater than I could imagine
For a boy to show us all what life truly is
To prove that love is more powerful than sin
To teach us what it really means
To cry

That night was the foundation of following feats
My brother would breathe and walk,
His mind would prove stronger than possible
The miracle of our home caused us all
To cry

Despite the distress caused by his birth
In time I grew stronger in mind and in heart
For that night I knew that everyday I’d see his face
And realize his joy, his mind, his life. And I’d smile
And cry.