you gave the label freely
but never did understand that –
i wore it so very uncomfortably

it’s over
and though the pain –
will turn to embers –
over a period of time

i tried expressing myself
but somebody –
wanted me to be somebody else
take the rough with the smooth

at least i know
at least,
on a selfish plan
at least i know

no role models
no bearing on what is correct
no human contact
so little respect

day by day
i should have left
so much sooner

they came to hurt me
not the first,
not the last

defined by them?
crazy adults
throwing verbal knifes –
at one another

wake up
children attended to
children off to religious school
children to nursery