You’re the one holding the microphone
While I’m living the life you talk about.
While I’m living the life you talk about.
You speak of my struggles.
Like they’re just exhibits in a museum,
Describing them with careful words
While I stand next to you, just breathing.
Like they’re just exhibits in a museum,
Describing them with careful words
While I stand next to you, just breathing.
You say you know what is best
Because you raised me,
Because you watched me grow,
Because you learned the words for my differences.
Because you raised me,
Because you watched me grow,
Because you learned the words for my differences.
But you never lived in the silence
When the room got too loud.
You didn’t feel the weight of people staring
Judging me before I even spoke.
When the room got too loud.
You didn’t feel the weight of people staring
Judging me before I even spoke.
You learned my story.
But I’m the one living it.
But I’m the one living it.
Yet the world still turns to you,
Nods along when you talk,
Puts your words into policies and panels
While mine go unheard,
Like subtitles that no one reads.
Nods along when you talk,
Puts your words into policies and panels
While mine go unheard,
Like subtitles that no one reads.
I am not a case study.
Not a project.
Not a child you can carry with your words forever.
Not a project.
Not a child you can carry with your words forever.
I’m the author of my own life.
And I’m asking
That everyone here learns to listen
To the person
Who has been here all along.
That everyone here learns to listen
To the person
Who has been here all along.
I’m tired of you, my advocate, making decisions for me
Talking over me, as if I’m not even here.
Talking over me, as if I’m not even here.
