Saturday, May 19, 2012

That Kid

The hardest part about writing fiction is when it requires the truth. The following is a true story. It was written as part of the Hop Against Homophobia (HAH) to share my experiences and my POV.

I am that kid, bloody and bruised,
thrown on the sidewalk, wasted and used.
I am that kid in different clothes,
beat up and spit on for words that he chose.
I am that kid, no belief left in God,
that Christians reviled, and Samiritans robbed.
I am that kid that stayed late at school,
to avoid the cheers and the sneers of the "cool".
I am that kid that covered the mirrors,
that quietly hurt myself, screaming through tears.
I am that kid, coming out to my folks,
only to find I am the butt of their jokes.
I am that kid, hit and thrown to the ground,
you said you'd protect, but you were never around.
I am that kid who couldn't take any more,
so I closed off my heart, and prayed to my core.
I am that kid, that pray and pray,
since suicide's sin, kill me another way.
I am that kid, who lived through that shit,
now I AM STRONGER, and on the other side of it.
I am that man, who sees the truth,
that people are mean, and worse, in their youth.
I am that man who understands how
the same ones who made fun are all sorry now.
I am that man, they all wanted to be,
even in youth, cause the truth set me free.
I am that man, who chooses to love,
stronger than hate, I rise above.
I am that man though the kid is still me,
the only difference is now, I'm happy to be.
I am that man who journeyed though hate
bruised but not broken, who chose his own fate.
I am that man who will love who he please
No apologies, no regrets, 'til this life, it does cease.

19 comments:

  1. Oh, baby, I love the great heart the flower of this poem springs from. Love.

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  2. Thank you for sharing this - I am sorry you had to go through such pain.

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  3. I am glad you came out the other side the strong person you are today...........thanks for sharing a bit of your sould with us

    ((hugs))
    Embry

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  4. Beautiful! Sorry for what you went through and I wish for you many years filled with love.

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  5. OMG! What a heartbreaking, but utlimately triumphant and beautiful poem. Thanks for sharing. I think everyone should read this. Can I have your permission to repost on my site?

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  6. Sweetheart, I know how that feels - but you're not that boy anymore. You're strong and beautiful and loved. I'm so glad I got to see you at OutlantaCon, and I'm looking forward to hanging out at GRL. <3

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  7. I am all choked up. Thank you for sharing.

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  8. Oh, wow. You made me cry and smile through my tears. Love you, sweetheart. <3

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  9. Wow, very powerful. Thank you for sharing.

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  10. Oh wow William. I...there's so much dust in the room right now, it's making my eyes water. Thank you so much for this poem, for this post. It's amazing. Thank you.

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  11. This is beautiful and powerful and there are so many who need to read this and take it to heart. Thank you.

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  12. Lovely and heartbreaking. You want to know what I love most about it? That in your darkest time, you *prayed*. The Religious Right doesn't have a exclusive rights to access to God.

    Thank you for sharing this with us.

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  13. Powerful. Beautiful. And something I hope those who are going through the same pain will find and gain strength from. No one can tell others how to survive nearly as well unless they've been there first.

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  14. William, you are amazing. Thank you for sharing this with us.

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  15. Beautiful. GLad you made it through to the other side.

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  16. Brought tears to my eyes. Beautiful poem and thanks for sharing your pain and your strength.

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  17. Lovely and heart-wrenching!

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