I couldn't begin to say,

Everything that I want to,

When music of no words,

Does it better than I do.

I love the songs we play in band,

Happy or sad,

It's all music in the end.

I love sitting next to my friends,

United as one,

Together in the end.

I love the way the sound just flows,

It lights up the room,

And our best qualities it shows.

And I love the way you teach us how,

To hold a trombone,

Or a flute, anyhow.

You never give up,

You never stop caring,

And I know I'm not the only one,

Who's affected by your sharing.

If there was one truth,

That I could hold dear,

It would be that me and you,

Had to fight to get right here.

So many bloody battles,

Lost to history,

And when I think back on my past,

I wonder what my future will think.

I never want to forget,

The way my ancestors fought,

And the paths that they carved,

Of strength they took a lot.

This position of comfort,

That I occupy now,

Is not a privilege,

But a gift from the ox's plow.

I hope you never taste,

The bitter tang,

Of words unspoken,

And songs unsung.

I hope you have courage,

When you need it most,

And when the time to fight,

Is getting close.

I hope you have strength,

When no one else does,

Or else you'll lose it, too,

The right to use your tongue.

I hope you have passion,

When all seems to be gloomy,

Enough to light the crowds afire,

With a powerfully yelled tune.

I hope you have wisdom,

Enough to at least see,

That this right you cherish,

Is going away as we speak.

And I hope you have the grit,

To stand up and fight,

To speak a truth which most won't want to hear,

If only for the people who want it.

Freedom of speech,

Is something so sweet,

Something we must cherish,

And use when we need.

It is a right,

And a responsibility,

It gives us a chance,

To tell what we see.

I hope you never taste,

The flavor on your tongue,

Of bitter words unspoken,

Or of laments unsung.

We have a freedom right now,

To speak what we think,

And yet it seems,

That every day that freedom shrinks.

Will you let it disappear?

Why do you think it's okay,

To stretch out my silence,

To put a hand over my mouth,

And tell me to make a sandwich?

Why do you think it's okay,

To pretend my feelings are nothing,

To say that I am being dramatic,

And that I should bow to you as king?

Why must you think it's alright,

To break me down inside,

To hurt my mind so greatly,

That I no longer put up a fight?

Is it because I'm a woman,

Or because I'm a girl,

Or maybe it's because,

You're scared of my tornado's whirl?

Why must I have to hide,

My emotions from the light,

When every part of me that hurts,

Is one that you have tied?

You act like it is nothing,

To insult the way I am,

To highlight my womanhood,

And turn it to a sham.

You pretend your words don't hurt,

Crude jokes of thoughtless mind,

But you never really thought,

Of the humor I might not find.

You pretend that it was nothing,

Don't know what I get on about,

But maybe it's because I'm too quiet,

Must my feelings, I scream and shout?

And then you laugh awkwardly,

As I finally stand my ground,

And you tell me I am wrong,

That your opinion is not profound.

And somehow my mind,

Refuses to break this time,

As you ask me for forgiveness,

Which you will be defied.

For I am done being berated,

Tested and torn,

For a lie that you like to spread,

And instead I will stand,

For a truth to be reborn.

I started in the day,

My eyes cheery and bright,

As I hung out with a group of boys,

Who helped me see the light.

At first I was accepted,

My differences cast aside,

And I hardly even noticed,

The way their emotions did hide.

But soon enough that bright day,

Turned into a dark night,

And once again I was left alone,

Forced into a plight.

I wish it were true,

That I ever really felt safe,

But how can I,

When everyone I love has betrayed?

I started in the day,

My eyes cheery and bright,

As I hung out with a group of boys,

Who helped me see the light.

At first I was accepted,

My differences cast aside,

And I hardly even noticed,

The way their emotions did hide.

But soon enough that bright day,

Turned into a dark night,

And once again I was left alone,

Forced into a plight.

I wish it were true,

That I ever really felt safe,

But how can I,

When everyone I love has betrayed?

I am breaking inside,

As I watch the world fly by,

Because everything we have worked for,

Has gone out of the door.

What happened to my rights,

To feeling safe and free,

What happened to the normality,

Of owning property?

What happened to the idea,

That everyone can be equal but different,

Because now I'm stuck,

Under your rock.

You stash me away,

And hide me inside,

Trading my body,

For the new woman's lie.

They call themselves true,

Born as me and you,

But I know that there's difference,

In everything about them.

How can you do this to me?

How can you let them hurt me?

I guess I'm worthless to you, too.

I am breaking inside,

As I stare at the world,

Because for the first time in my life,

I just want to give up.

My fights are in vain,

My body aches with pain,

And I fear that my warrior inside,

Will never show herself again.

What am I to do,

When all is lost,

When I should give up the fight,

Because I know the cost,

But I can't?

You're breaking me,

You chauvinistic people,

The ones that think I'm nothing,

Because of the gender that I am.

I'm not supposed to be broken,

I have to be perfect,

Perfect in cooking, cleaning, and parenting,

Perfect in strength,

Never crying,

Never showing my true emotions,

Perfect because a monster says that I have to be.