Break out of the Right.

By- Jacqueline Lantsman

 

We’re taught the “right”

The way to speak

How to dress

How to act

Who to love

 

We’re scrutinized if we don’t follow these principles

“That’s Gay! What’s with your voice and your vocabulary? Haven’t watched 21st century TV?”

“Ew! What are you wearing? Those shoes don’t match and your pants can’t be loose. Only boys wear that.”

“Why don’t you think he’s cute? I think he’s cute, she thinks he’s cute, what’s wrong with you?”

 

The “right,” when not followed, is portrayed by statements like “Only boys wear that” or “What’s wrong with you?”

Statements that change us.

Words that morph us into the standard

We stay quiet and put up with it

Afraid

Afraid of being out-casted

Afraid of the words

Afraid that if we step out, it will be worse

We protect ourselves

We are quiet

 

Innable to mute their individuality

They cannot change

Their words, they lock inside

Quiet

They hate themselves for being different

They listen to the statements

Words after words

Called “the outcast,” “the fag,” “the dike,” so on

They are laughed at

Pointed at

Pushed

Shoved

Punched

Standing quiet because the cruel words make them feel wrong

As if they are the person behind the words

They are what others say

They feel as if they must stay quiet

The beauty their words withhold are pushed away

Deeper and deeper under their skin

 

Today I will stay silent for those who are not able to speak up

Unable to use their words to portray their beauty

I will stay silent for those scrutinized for their extraordinaire

Their individuality

Their love

 

I will stay quiet to show them they are not alone

And when the time is right they can stand up and make a difference

Break out of the “right”

 

Break the social teaching of the “right”

The way to speak

How to dress

How to act

Who to love

 

Break out of the scrutiny

Out of these principles

Out of the words

“That’s Gay!”

“Only boys wear that”

“What’s wrong with you?”

 

Dissolving the “right”

Allowing for existence

Morphing the words into beauty

Into us

Who we embody, our truth

 

Puting a stop to the muting of individuality

Praising difference

Praising joy from self

Praising love

Praising happiness

 

Today I will stay silent for those who are not able to speak up

I will stay silent for those scrutinized for their beauty

Their individuality

Their love

I will stay quiet to show them they are not alone

And when the time is right they can stand up and make a difference

Break out of the “right”

Break out of the Standard