Poems by Farren Woodburr

why

Also by A

Why would I choose to be like this?

You think I want to

hurt all of my life?

I wanted,

and still want so badly

to be comfortable and happy

in the body I was born with.

The thing is, you can't choose

to have a mental illness.

You can pretend to have one

all you want, but you'll never really have it

unless there's something wrong with your brain.

If I could choose,

I'd be a straight cis middle class male

born into a cliche normal family.

Because then I could

go where I want

without being questioned for it.

Why would I want to be something

that could get me killed

just for existing?

Why would I want

to get called a liar,

an attention seeking

little baby?

You think I'm faking it?

I'm faking the constant breakdowns,

not being able to get out of bed,

and hurting myself because of it?

Just check my wrists and hips,

they'll give you all the proof you need.

Why would I want

to have to spend

thousands of dollars

to get rid of parts of my body

and to add in extra hormones?

The answer is-

I wouldn't.