strengthened by force

37.) my name

. . . my name draws silence.
puts a frown on their faces.
because i am known to ruin things
with my clumsy graces . . .

i know i am not desirable,
that my heart is still naive.
that the people who say they'll stay
will most likely leave.

but i am growing.
i will continue to be me.
i won't let society tell me
who i need to be.

i will grow in my confidence.
i will become better.
i refuse to let this world
   make me become cold and bitter.

i choose to put trust
in places they say i shouldn't.
in the bad boy's smirk
and the mean girl's eye rolls
and the quiet boy's smoke and tattoos
and the soft-spoken "creepy" girl's
   scratches and reoccurring bloody
   bruise.

there's a beautiful light in everyone, so
why should i count them out?
. . . well actually, sometimes not everyone
has the best intentions for you
   thought out . . .

like society and its ideal standards
for the men and women
this world harbors!

but sometimes,
an outstretched hand can save a life.
so no matter the pain
or the strife,

I WILL FIGHT!

i will fight for their lives,
because we all deserve to know
the feeling of someone caring enough
to let it completely show.

you never know who will end up
being able to point at you and say—
"IT'S BECAUSE OF THEM
THAT I STAND HERE TODAY!"

so put your heart on the line.
speak your strong-willed mind
and let it be known
that you will always fight
for the underdogs and lives that are
   undermined.

. . . i hope that one day,
when people hear my name,
they will be able to say—
"she's the one who never lost hope.
who fought for me, no matter how
much i would complain and mope!"

because i want to change.
not only myself,
but the people i'm around.
i want to help them see the light
and beauty
in every life.

wouldn't the world be beautiful
if we focused instead
on the beauty and positivity,
instead of only negativity and dread?