Escape
Growing up I realized I lived a life denied
In a lie
I started young in denying my truths
So the inside of my head ran ragged with words
unsaid
And I stopped speaking so the words wouldn’t fall out
My whole existence became a guide to nonexistence
I tried to slip away
But when the sound inside my head became too loud
I had to write them down
Poetry was the only option
Any other and someone might read
Figure out what it is I was trying to say
Better to muddle my meaning in pretty words than to let them know
But then one day I came out
Of my shell and found the courage to say
“Mom...I’m gay”