You never knew me
how could you?
I didn’t..
I was never drawn to you
you weren’t broken enough
I acknowledge and welcomed your presence
even recognized your dialect
I’ve spoken many different tongues myself-
like love pain naivete
and even ignorance
just not privileged
cultured in my own ways I suppose
I’ve been around
though not far,
but far enough to know-
we spoke a different language
from a time split by experiences
instead of years
I code switched and spoke your language to fit in
yet when I spoke my language-
I was sore thumbs
we trek from two different worlds
you run from the things I embrace
denying the realities I know exist
how could we coexist intimately in a shared space
when our philosophies would clash and crash
because frankly
I’ve seen it all
yet still I seek
and even question in places where no light creeps
but you’re still scared of the dark
entertaining bed time stories about my life experiences
no, you never knew me,
truthfully you never wanted to
because we all innately fear what we don’t understand
and you will never understand me
it would tarnish your outlook-
like a kid finding out Santa was a hoax
so why would I entertain fear
especially now that I’m living free of it
my life is more museum to people like you
feel free to exhibit
but keep your distance
and don’t touch!