In the beginning,

When everything tasted

And smelled

And simply was

Too sweet,

I thought I deserved

Nothing.

 

I thought I deserved

To conform to what was given

Because words were outdated

And my humor was just too

Boring.

 

I thought I deserved

The insults that people whispered,

Because my weight

And my hair were just too

Big.

 

I thought I deserved

To be alone with myself

Because my friends

And their smiles never

Stayed.

 

But as I grew older,

And met my breed of person,

Who enjoyed books

And weirdness

And me,

 

I formed friendships

That took me in whole,

Complimented my hair’s curls,

And even laughed at

My jokes.

 

They taught me what I deserved.

They taught me who I could be.

And so a butterfly frees from her cocoon.

I learned that I was good enough

To be loved.

 

I always thought I deserved

To be second place,

That silver would always be first,

But hand-in-hand, I reach

Gold, and in turn, I learn

This is what we

Deserve.