Anthem

by Thomas M. Pender

I am

I am me

And no one else is allowed to be me

They can’t see what I see

They can’t feel what I feel

And I am proud

Proud to be me

I am not arrogant

Because I know that I am not better than others

Just different

Unique

I think

I dream

I fear

I love

I hate

And I cry

And each feeling that I feel

Is mine alone

Things touch me

Like they touch no one else

And I touch others

As no one else can

What others feel toward me

Good or bad

Are their own feelings

And I will not let them change me

In any way

Because if they change me

I will be someone else

And not me

And me is all I want to be

For no one else is allowed to be me

And me is a fine thing to be

written by t. michael pender  5/19/87

©1987 T. Michael Pender.  All rights reserved.