Nothing

“If you could change anything about yourself

What would it be?”

The question that haunts

Children endlessly

“I’d change my hair”

One replies

Another –

“My eyes”

“I’d change my voice”

“My clothes”

“My face”

“My toes”

Endless, shallow answers

All seemingly are

Responses to this question

Of which with we spar

When in turn I answer

When I speak aloud

When they hear my words

After – not a sound

“To change what has happened

Or to change my attributes

Would change my very being

Something I refute

“To change my childhood

Riddled with abuse

Would change how strong I am

Would change my choice to choose

“To alter the smallest

Most insignificant of things

Would in turn alter

Who I turned out to be.”