The body I have

I could envy a healthy body and sound mind

But I'd have to make up a story

A fiction of what it must be like

Because I've never had those things

I don't want to pine away for the imagined

What is the value in such fantasy

Snake oil salesmen may claim otherwise

But there's no path to an easy cure

This is the body I was born to and live in

I've spent a lifetime learning my limitations

I may be curious about another experience

To be in a body that does what is expected

But I refuse to live with envy

I refuse to imagine myself into hate.

unsolicited opinion

Your opinion is an uninvited guest

I didn't open the door for you to say anything

Don't sneak it in as a compliment

Or an underhanded attempt to share

Acting like you're all white picket fences

Next to my abandoned fixer upper

I'm not looking to get your buy in

My life isn't an open house

I'm not looking to buy your wares

My face is a no solicitors sign

So, stop being a nosy neighbor

We certainly don't live on the same street

Because I don't barge into random houses

I focus on my own life, I tend my own house

If I want an opinion, if I'm looking for advice,

Give me the chance to ask for it.

identity first

Policing my language

When I speak of my identity

Is simply unacceptable 

The culture may decree

Whatever it wants about words

But I decree what is true for me

You may think you know better

But I get to choose what I call myself

If you can dare to listen to my words

If you decide to respect my choice

I might believe your trying to understand

I might believe you care about I.

Curiosity Denied

Curiosity liked to stroll the streets

Eager to know their neighbors

One days Curosity noticed a new house

Privacy was out mowing its lawn

Privacy saw earnest Curiosity in the distance 

Privacy went inside and drew the curtains

Curiosity rushed to the unfamilar door

Curiosity turned the knob, but it was locked

Curiosity was used to strolling in, uninvited

But Curiosity was also a bit of a flake

And once interest warned, Curiosity left

Other neighbors coped in their own ways

Intimacy didn't find Curiosity reliable

Often annoyed by their inconsistancy

Curiosity didn't really respect Boundaries

Even when Boundaries built a gate

Curiosity just climbed right over it

So now Boundaries avoided Curiosity

But Privacy was new and interesting

Curiosity called out, pounding at the door

Privacy persistently didn't answer

Curiosity got louder, demanding to be let in

Night rolled in and finally Curiosity left

In the dark of night, Privacy stepped outside

Boundaries walked down the dim street

Boundaries stopped in eyesight of Privacy

Boundaries waited for Privacy to wave

A bit later, Intimacy walked down the street

Privacy looked for Boundaires blessing

Feeling reassured, Privacy waved at Intimacy

Standing outside, in companionable silence,

They felt bad about excluding Curiosity

But not bad enough to invite Curiosity over

So the three new friends went inside

And Privacy locked the door behind them.