i was taught
to never be an inconvenience
don't let others carry your burden
there's only so much
you should be speaking

i was taught
i feel too much
it is pretending acceptance requires
what goes around comes around
and with that
sensitive truth tellers
turn into destructive liars

i was taught
that dying is selfish
but i think about it too often
for them to understand
yet they claim our suffering
by nonexistent answers
to demand

and i was taught
how to never live free
if you are on the verge
of breaking
never let them see
but since we were born
we've spoken our truth
behind closed doors
and in the trauma of lost youth

so i teach myself how to unteach
spellings that shatter the broken
and there will come a time
for my truth to be spoken