You Are You

If you ask me who I am
I can tell you my name
one word
four letters
clap it out
one syllable
if you ask me who I am
I can tell you my age
pull out the cake
light the candles
I’ll blow them out
if you ask me who I am
I can tell you where I live
find a map
put your finger on it
but what does that really tell you
not much
who I am
and who you are
is more than a blank form
on a clipboard in a waiting room
I can tell you I don’t drink
you might judge me
I can tell you I don’t go to the movies
you might judge me
I can tell you I have no interest in sushi
you might judge me
I can tell you I’m misunderstood
you might not understand
I can tell you I know nothing about celebrities
and everything about athletes
I can tell you I’m addicted to sports
and you might start painting a picture
he’s one of those people
that’s it
that is it
one of those people
all of a sudden
I’m in a box
that’s all I am
that’s all I am perceived to be
and if I do something different
if I say I’m tired of a sport
if I try to get out of the box
it’s a surprise
it’s a big surprise
because that’s not me
it can’t be me
why would I like books
why would I like documentaries
why would I like writing
why would I like creating something with words
why would I stop watching hockey
why would I write poetry
why would I go for a walk
why would I actually say something heartfelt
why
why
why
and the questions pile up
as others control my identity
my
identity
but it’s not just me
it’s you
and you
and you and you
isn’t it
people will think you are one thing
and you are forever that one thing
anything else you do is a shock
am I right
we are complex creatures
with unique features
it’s time to start embracing them
there is so much pressure
these days
to be someone else
here is a picture
look like this
here is a video
agree with this
here is a popular person
act like this
we all just want to be accepted
but the bar of acceptance
is raised every single day
and we are the ones who raise it
higher and higher
it won’t stop
until we all put our feet down
stand up
get rid of the bar
and actually care about one another
for once
just once
I’m not talking about just your friends
I’m talking about everyone
because it’s stupid
downright stupid
that people can’t be themselves
because we won’t let them
you hear people cracking jokes
just so they aren’t the punchline
deflecting blame
pointing fingers
and making fun of others
who are you
to laugh at someone’s appearance
who are you
to laugh at someone’s interests
who are you
to laugh at how much someone weighs
it baffles my mind
maybe I’m from a different planet
didn’t we all start out in kindergarten
as little kids with big smiles
we wouldn’t hurt a fly
not a fly
then we grew up
and entered a world full of put downs
and judgments
the ones our ears can’t hear
those hurt the most
the world is broken
it’s all broken
and it took me a long time
to stop caring about what others thought
to just do what I want to do
and be who I want to be
ignore the background noise
and not think I’m always being judged
because I know who knows me
I know who’s seen the heart on my sleeve
and the honest messages late at night
trust me
I know who
and that’s all I’m trying to say here
embrace who you are
do it right now
I said do it right now
accept the people around you
do it every day
every single day
that’s how we change the world
not in a debate on TV
not by using hashtags
not by writing a cheque
it’s in how we treat each other
everybody is a somebody
remember that
everybody is a somebody
I am me
you are you
so be you.