Them

M.Z.

I see them.

The girl who cannot sleep at night

For she is thinking about a friend

Who told her once the world bled colors

And shed light on his life’s end.

The boy who still buries himself

In studies, sports; to blend

To hide his own desires beneath his

Father’s—he pretends

And she who cannot speak over 

The image others say

Is who she is, is what she is

Is her in their own way

He, who loves art and dance

And is ridiculed by his peers

For it is wrong for him to love

Boys without a fear.

I see them in the streets, at school

They, who struggle to speak

Outside of lies that they have heard

The young, unblessed; the weak

I see them hold rallies and colors

And others who speak their mind

And more who quiver to stand up

And still, the world is blind.

They walk amongst ourselves, and 

Think they’re all alone

For we have shown them the way out

Is drowning the unknown.

These boys and girls, these people

Who I’ve seen; they’re real, they’re here

They’re beautiful, they’re strong and

They say things we need to hear.

What good are we to never lend 

Those in need a hand?

Change is not created by simply

Discovering a land.

Because I see them.

I see them working hard to get tuition paid

I see them breathing smoke and wishing things could someday change

And I see them with their family who has never understood

Them, who pull others up but themselves they never could.

I see them.