Labels misread.

Do you see me?

Or do you only see the labels,

the boxes, the warnings?

______

You speak about safety

as if my truth is dangerous.

You speak about restrictions

as if my passion is reckless.

_______

But I am more than your assumptions.

I am love for what heals,

for what soothes,

for what connects us to something greater.

______

You see risk; I see resilience.

You see flaws; I see fire.

Burning in-spite of the silence.

_____

Do you see me now?

Not the labels misread,

not the parts of me mistook.

______

Can you look deeper,

beyond the surface, beyond the fears?

And see me as I truly am—

whole and worthy,

without the weight of your labels?