Hope, again
The happiest man in all the world
Looked down at me and said,
“I see no flaws, no source of shame.
Go out and forge ahead.”
“But what,” I asked, with feigning voice,
“Am I supposed to do
About the ridicule, the lies, the hate?
Surely, you’ve felt it too.”
“Yes, I have,” He smiled at me
And looked up to the sky.
“Often times it burned too deep,
And often I would cry.
I would look and see myself and hate
What it was I had become.
But it didn’t matter if I marched
To the beating of their drum.
The hate, the lies, the second looks
All came no matter what.
So I told myself, right then and there
That I would leave this rut.
I do not care what others think.
That’s the secret to my smile.
So go, my friend, your chains are gone,
Be happy, yourself, for a while.”