The Life I Live

I can’t help it if

I'm a bigger girl,

I’m “too big”,

My hair’s not long enough,

My skin not pale enough,

I’m not smart enough.

I can’t help it if

I don’t speak proper enough,

I use words like ain’t and dat,

Say “my bad” and not “sorry”,

“Who dat is?” instead of “what’s her name?”

I can’t help it if

I use colorful words

To describe people.

I can’t help it if

I didn’t grow up with

My parents together.

If I have 9 half-siblings.

I can’t help it if

I don’t use large words.

Like subordinate or soporific.

Or even conjugate.

I’m sorry that I can’t be this perfect image

That society creates for us.

I’m living up to my personality

And who I am as an individual.

Why can’t we just be who we are?

I will not change who I am

To fit anyones needs or

To fit their views of me.

I can’t help it if

I love myself more than

I want to please your selfish demands.