The Breath of a Boy

I'm sorry

it's the simple curse of existence 

"It's not polite for little girls to sit like that,

you're a respectable lady now aren't you? 

It's a woman's job, you'll have to get used to it." 

I'm sorry

I won't be a perfect provider

I can't feel my lungs 

"Look at her go! 

She's going to go far in life- just wait." 

Just wait till I tell you I'm queer

But even when I did

I knew I still wasn't being 

honest. 

I'm sorry but it hurts to breathe

I got a tattoo to remind me

i can't run

or hide

it's on my sleeve for all to see 

There's air all around me,

sometimes,

i forget how to breathe