do i speak
do i stay quiet
am i weak
or am i a riot
i am told a truth
or maybe a lie
earth cannot tell
both sides feel like hell
i am handed a word
do i say it aloud
do i shout it proud
or do i shield it so no one can
take it away from me
do i speak
do i stay quiet
am i weak
or am i a riot
i crave wisdom
i brave comments
seeking seeking seeking
never finding solace
razor wire words
at throats at wrists
taunted, shanked, shoved,
tainted, upheld, cherished
i am promised nothing
no assuaging words
no caging slurs
no raging righteously
do i speak
do i stay quiet
am i weak
or am i a part of the riot
they tell me what to think
they tell me what to feel
and tell me, we must protect the freedom
to feel these things
while they shrink my every appeal
they bring me back from my travels
and try to shove me in small spaces
how could i survive there
after seeing and hearing so much
how small their worlds
how sorrowful their thoughts
handed them by someone else
unreliable sources on both sides
and opinion reigns
and i feign understanding
am i free to speak
am i free to stay quiet
am i free to be strong
am i free to riot
they tell me i am free
then condemn me when i do
oh earth, we are all so different
i'm sorry we destroy, destroy, destroy you