All I Want

Sometimes I feel like a ghost screaming at the real world, longing to be heard.

All I want is for one person to turn around and see me,

to acknowledge my effort in just being,

And say “I hear you. I see you. You are real to me.”

Sometimes I feel like a hamster on a wheel,

running faster and faster but getting nowhere.

The world says “keep going, look how strong you are!”

All I want is to be told “it’s ok to rest.”

Sometimes I feel like I’m still sitting at the kid’s table.

The men look down at me with their patronizing gaze

and pat me on the head when I speak up.

All I want is to be told “you belong here with us.”