By: Sofia Turek

Let me express myself

 

Come to my house

 

Take my ugly face
and you’ll find beauty in me as a person
Take the football shirt 
and you’ll find out that I made that for Sports Day
Take the earrings I have 
and you’ll find that those are a gift because people think I’m feminine

 

I, Aster
am misunderstood
treated like a weed
I question if I
should share myself

 

And I do.

 

“Hey! You’re just a boy?”
Kids ask me
Yes and no
My name’s Aster
I don’t follow
gender’s expectations

 

“Your face…”
Disregard that
I am a rose
There are thorns on me
But like me as a person
Not hate me as a model

 

It was hard work
Sharing myself
I had to ignore 
Everyone else