I am vegan.
But you eat pizza with cheese sometimes.
But you shouldn't eat mock meat.
You have to justify why.

I am a feminist.
But I am a good white guy.
But then you hate men.
You have to justify why.

I am sick.
Of having to explain myself.
Of having to behave perfectly.
As soon as they label me.

I am tired.
Of saying the same thing
Over and over again.

And I wonder in silence
Why we can't all be
vegan and feminist.

Do you remember our first date?
A date that wasn't official
for you never dared to ask me out.
A date that was one
even though we didn't kiss at the end.
A date where I lost my gaze
in your pretty eyes.

How many dates will there be?
A date where we kiss goodbye
and are slowly falling for each other.
A date where we spend the night
and are not two but one.
A date which is not a date
as we spend more time together than apart.

I can't wait.
For you
For us
For I am already falling
Falling for you.

When I have a degree,
with eyes open wide
to give back to society -
will you please consider me?

You don't have what it takes
You don't go to the right school
You don't score high enough
You won't work at ours.

I have work experience,
I am eager to learn more
I promise to work hard -
will you please consider me?

You don't have what it takes
You don't speak like a Native
You don't have our background
You won't work at ours.

I keep my head up high
for I am not giving up.
I may never be enough
but

I will -
LEARN
I will -
WORK
I will -
STRIVE

So just give me a chance.

I feel like I'm the only one
who really cares
about the pandemic.

I feel like I'm the only one
who is scared
to infect someone I love.

I feel like I'm the only one
who sees
that a storming is coming.

I feel like I'm the only one.

you are
syntax and semantics
phonetics and phonology
you are
written and oral
formal and informal
you are
past and future
now and forever
you are
identity and heritage
togetherness and uniqueness
you are
simple and complex
imperfect and perfect
you are
language.

every day -
hustling and bustling
eating and sleeping
ever week -
Monday to Friday
nine to five
every year -
working and holidaying
waiting and longing
to be free.