Maybe I can't live in my "fantasy world" forever

with my unrealistic dreams

my overly-optimistic hopes

my fanciful desires

my foolish expectations

my ridiculous idealogies

Maybe I'm wrong

to want to have my cake and eat it, too

Maybe I'm unrealistic

to dream of both success and happiness

Overly-optimistic

to hope society will change eventually for the better

Fanciful

to desire more than what I'm told is my allotment

Foolish

to expect the world to accept and care

Ridiculous

to idealize a world where I can - where I will - feel safe

As a woman

         muslim

         liberal

         feminist

         individual

         human being

Maybe I don't know what I'm doing

where I'm going

what life is

what the world can do

Maybe I don't know anything about responsibility

But at least I know who I am

        what I stand for

        where I belong

        what I want

        what I don't

At least I look in the mirror

and know it is I who stares back

I, who gags at the thought of squash

I, who alternately hates and loves people

I, who stood in line for 6 hours for Fall Out Boy tickets

I, who hides what I feel because Mother worries for her reputation

I, who bites my tongue and tolerates despite my passions

I, who despises poetry yet writes for hours

I, who is the only I I'll ever have or know

I, who knows they cannot be right.