take them off

no

why? just do it

okay

and so i do it

 

i do it

i don't want to but i do it

i become forever changed

in their eyes

but really it's my eyes

 

i can taste the curiosity in the air

feel the gazes of

the young the old the in between

whenever i take my mask off

and so i never do

 

to be normal

to experience normal

i want to feel at ease when

i am myself

when i am naked

 

i can't open my eyes but

in the clamor of the scrubs

and in the blinding whiteness

maybe i don't want to

maybe i don't want to see myself

 

they check my eyes

my knees my hands my tubes

but they don't check

the exuberant turmoil

of my mind

 

wheelchair, rolling, maneuvering

i am but a pawn

a baby fresh out the womb

i don't know where i don't know how

i got here

 

mom helping me out

mom helping me up

mom helping me in

mom, if there's an apocalypse

save all the dogs

 

we stop

it is bright and then

it is not

i unfurl and release

my captors from their duties

 

public bathroom

don't leave me alone

i want to lock the door

no

i need to get to you if you fall

 

bright light again

man passes

do you need help?

no, we're fine, thank you

but do we need help?

 

i know the answer now

i am who i am

you can call green blue

but it is still green

and so am i

 

i can see the same

and i can see differently

and i can see my mind

because now i know

who instead of what

 

take them off

no

why? just do it

no

because it's not me

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Image Art is by Emmanuel Turner