Day after day, my peers struggle with understanding,
They find themselves plagued with a diverse culture,
But despite their best efforts, they are a dying breed,
Every day, leaps and bounds are made on a national level,
Leaps and bounds are made for equality,
But that says nothing for the local level,

The level on which,
Students are traumatized day after day for being different,
Children find themselves forced into a position of ridicule,
Forced to a point, that they know not what to do,
All I ask is; do you understand, yet?

Every day, steps are taken backward,
Backward because they fear what they do not understand,
Adults that are supposed to be present for our protection,
Many stand by, ever-silent, and oblivious
I ask them; do they understand, yet?

Four thousand young people die every year because of those who do not understand,
They die because they fear to be themselves,
Because when they do, they are ridiculed, and bullied,
So I ask-- no, I tell my teachers,
Stand up! Try to understand!

If you are one of those that refuses to understand, be you teacher or peer,
I've only this to say to you:

Tell that to the families of those who have done the unthinkable.
Tell that to the man or woman who loves them.
Tell them you don't understand how your bullying, or silence, caused it.