They tell me to go out into the forest So that I can clear my mind. But how could anyone do that While there are people Somewhere in the world, Dying for what their leaders Think is “right”? The world bleeds with hate, People kill each other Because of their beliefs, Or their skin color, Or their sexuality, They always find a reason. Why can’t we love each other Like we love ourselves? They tell me to listen to the birds, But in order to do so, It has to be quiet. And in order to be quiet, The warplanes have to die. Politicians excuse their greed With silly reasons No one understands. But when anyone dares To say something against it, They’re called a traitor And treated as such. Criminals deny their crimes And are allowed to live Like they always did. They’re given the opportunity To rape more children, To torture more women, To kill more people. Our rights are slowly Getting stolen from us, And there’s nothing we can do To fight this torturous process. The only thing that remains Is our hope And our will to live. I hope this will be enough. ​

“Would you still love me if I was a worm?” But I know she would. There are few things I’m sure about, And her love for me is one of them. The way she keeps caring for me Even if it’d be easier to just don’t, It means more to me than I can express. I’m good with words if you give me a pencil and paper, But talking? No, that’s nothing for me. And maybe that’s okay. Maybe poetry is my way to escape reality And understand the depth of my feelings For her. I’ve never felt like this before, Never once in my life. Would it be weird to say I don’t want to lose this feeling? It makes my whole world spin, Turning everything upside down, Yet, at the same time, It’s the thing that anchors me When reality becomes too much to handle.

I almost went back to pushing people away Whenever it gets too much. I almost took the knife, But I didn’t, though it would’ve been easier. I almost not gift her the card That was the start of this beautiful relationship. I almost said those few words, Cutting off this friendship before it destroys me. I almost went home from having a panic attack, But then she would’ve known. I almost stayed in bed that day Because my limbs were too heavy to move. I almost didn’t sign up for the exchange Just because I wasn’t sure if it’d be good. There are so many things I almost did Or didn’t do. But now I know that sometimes, My own fear is my biggest enemy.

I am my parents daughter, But what if I wasn’t? What if I was born somewhere else in the world? I probably wouldn’t be allowed To say my own opinion, Or to wear the clothes I want, Or to love who I want to. I wouldn’t be able To go to school and study, To just meet with my friends Whenever we want to. Every single woman Who has to live a life like this Has earned my highest respect And will never lose it. I know I couldn’t do this If I was in their place. So, please, tell me, Why did I get lucky And not one of them?

They say we are the evil ones, The ones who demand more they can give. But why is it wrong for me To fight for who I am? Why shouldn’t I be allowed To marry a woman? We are not demanding something They don’t have, We just want to have the same rights And the same opportunities And the same chances As everyone else. Even if some of them try to understand it, They’ll never know how it feels If you can’t tell your own family And your own friends Who you really are deep down inside your heart. They’ll never know how it feels If you don’t know what label fits you While you don’t even want one And just think about it So they feel more comfortable around you. And no, it’s not “just a phase”. Even if it was, its none of their business, So why do they treat it as such? Why can’t they just leave us alone And live their life’s Like anyone else does? All of us, Every single one of us, We are all only human, Nothing more and nothing less. In the end, We all bleed the same blood, No matter who we love or how we look.