Belonging

In a world where whispers echo loud, 

tread on paths beneath a shroud, 

Where thoughts like flowers, vibrant and bold, 

Are stifled, labeled, and left untold. 

Each word I speak, a careful dance, 

Afraid to share, to take a chance, 

For in the shadows, judgment waits, 

To twist my voice, to seal my fates. 

When passion rises, a flame inside, 

It’s met with silence, a raging tide, 

For raising a voice is seen as rude, 

A clash of colors, a bitter feud. 

Yet deep within, a longing grows, 

To share my heart, to let it flow, 

To stand in truth, to be sincere, 

But fear of scorn keeps me unclear. 

Oh, to be me, unmasked and free, 

To share my thoughts, to simply be, 

In a space where differences bloom, 

And understanding chases away the gloom. 

So here I stand, with dreams in hand, 

Hoping one day, we’ll understand, 

That every voice, a note in song, 

Together, we can all belong.