sometimes i wish
you'd see beyond
the color of my eyes
and the cloth wrapped around my head

i wish you would
think of me as an individual
put away my appearance
and regard me as a person

my thoughts matter
my ideas aren't all bad
i have opinions
and i choose to speak my mind
if only you would
listen to my words
and try to comprehend what i'm saying
rather than focusing on my accent
and the way my lips curve when i speak

the cloth on my head
does not rid me of ideas
it does not limit my mental capabilities
it does not lower my tolerance
have a debate with me
spark a conversation
instead of complimenting my smile
compliment my mind
instead of assuming that my beliefs are enforced upon me
ask me what i believe
ask me what i value

tell me what you base your morals on
question me
give me counterarguments
talk to me
instead of staring at me
and making biased assumptions
already concluding who i am
and where i come from
before you've even
said hello!

i am not just the color of my skin
i am not just the size of my thighs
i am not just the design of my clothes
i am not just the price of my purse
i am not just the pattern of my headscarf
i am not just the length of my nails
i am not just a body

i am a mind
i am a heart
i am a soul

i am my theories
i am my thoughts
i am my perceptions
i am my opinions
i am my viewpoints
i am my objectives
i am my purpose
i am my outlooks
i am my intentions
i am my reasons
i am my perspectives
i am my choices
i am my principles
i am my ideologies

i am a thinking, feeling, living, stimulated, motivated, inspired being

i've got a world inside of me
take a look see
before you choose to pass judgment on me.

Who am I?
It seems like such a simple question,
And in all honesty, it is.
The challenge comes in answering it.
Because the answers come in layers
That must be unraveled
Like a ball of yarn.

Who am I?
In kindergarten we drew self portraits,
And we filled out worksheets
That told the world "All About Me."
My hair is blonde, my eyes are blue.
I like the colors red and gold,
And I love to eat chocolate.

Who am I?
As we got older, we developed hobbies.
"We are defined by what we do."
I like psychology, so I'm a nerd.
But challenge me to a riveting game of Clue,
And I'll read your mind and win the game.
So I guess being a nerd has its perks.

Who am I?
Well, I like to think that I'm a musician.
My fingers dance across keys of black and ivory,
And I smile as sweet harmonies
Fill the vacancies of the room.
I believe music is heard with the ears,
But felt with the soul.

Who am I?
I choose to be an optimist.
Because life is too short
To spend it without a smile.
I laugh at simple things
Because I love to laugh,
Simple as that.

Who am I?
I am a fighter.
I have struggles, just like the rest of humanity.
I'm not perfect, but I'm not a quitter either.

Who am I?
I'm a loving sister and a loyal friend.
Till the very end of time,
I will stand by the ones I love.
I believe in a God who believes in me.
He is my anchor, my light, and my friend.
In His strength, I CAN succeed.

Who am I?*
I am the person I choose to become.

She comes from routine
monotony, with just a hint of spontaneity.
She comes from laughter,
the good kind,
with wrinkled noses, cramped bellies and hiccupsbetweenwords.
She comes from knowledge
from sitting,
swiveling,
stretching,
sleeping,
AND an empty mind.
She comes from dark rooms
in quiet houses
filled to the brim
with white noise.
She comes from nowhere of importance
because
where she is going is all that matters.

I am a star,
Shining bright for all to see.
Until I remember,
There are millions more aside from me.

I am a star,
Who on her own shines brightly.
But there’s always one
Who smugly must outshine me.

I am a star,
Always there, but try as I might,
It won’t take much
To outshine my feeble light.

I am a star,
Who can’t find her place in the sky.
But someday you’ll see,
I’ll be brighter than the moon, ever nigh.

Have you ever felt
trapped in your own skin,
a prisoner of what
others think of you?
They say you're quiet,
so you're quiet.
They say you're a good kid,
so you're good.
They think they know who you are,
like you're a puzzle
they've pieced together.
So you've gotta fit the frame
they've made for you.
But I wanna be me!
I wanna show them
who I really am.
I want them to see
what's on my inside.
And once they know that;
I can be free.
It's time for me to let
my true colors show.
I won't be defined
by how I'm classified.
You can't label me,
I won't let you.
Sometimes I'm a good girl
sometimes I'm sweet.
But sometimes I break the rules
and I'm kinda sassy.
You think you've got me figured out,
like you've solved the mystery
of my crazy life.
But it's time for you to see
That isn't who I am.
Cause I wanna be me!
I wanna show them
who I really am.
I want them to see
what's on my inside.
And once they know that;
I can be free.
And I'm no longer gonna hide
this growing fire
inside my heart.
I'm gonna let it all out.
I'll raise my voice,
I'll tell the world,
That I'm gonna be me!
And I'll show them
who I really am.
They're going to see
what's on my inside.
And once they know that
I will be free!
Yes, I will be free!

The method of my stance has not
come with such easy majesty.
My friends can see when I lean.

The boundary between my life spirit
and those living outside
my boundary have merged
discreetly more than once.

My underneath scrapes
the surface of muddy ponds
while my latest haircut
invites a sky of golden drizzle.

I might enjoy calling
this day over, as in done with,
were it not that the stars
swinging over my ears
await their glistening.

always on the outside
it was me, it was you.
it was everyone who was told
you're too fat
you're weird
you're to quiet.
it was everyone but it was no one
because when we were left out
we were living, growing thicker skins
and when the façade deteriorated
it was us who where left.
because it was our individuality that was our survival.

You said,
You can't make it if you don't stand out.

I said,
I am.

You said,
You can't make it if you're black.

I said,
I am.

You said,
You can't make it if your homosexual

I said,
I am

You said,
You can't make it if you're too nice.

I said,
I am.

You said,
You can't make it if you're a women.

I said,
I am.

You said,
You can't make it if you're too tall.

I said,
I am.

You said,
You can't make it if you're too you.

I said,
I am.

You said,
You can't make it if you don't stand out.

I said,
I am.

You said,
You can't make it.

I said,
I am.

You said,
I don't understand.

I said,
You don't have to.