Operation **Reclaim** Loveland

Brave by Protyus A. Gendher

Don’t you dare call me brave 
For existing as myself 
For refusing to hide pieces away to be more palatable 
I’m delectable in my sovereign uniqueness 
And that’s not brave 
That’s you having a tiny view 
That’s you projecting your ideas of normalcy on me 
No need 
That’s shit you can keep 
Lock it away please 
Keep that off of me 
Please, if you would be so kind, refrain from referring to me as resilient 
Just because I have a light that didn’t extinguish 
From every catastrophe this world hurled at me 
I’m not your poverty porn, so get off of me 
I don’t need more situations to “make me stronger” 
I don’t need you to praise the fact that I didn’t wither away 
Check the meaning behind your words and your privileged gaze 
Please put the word “survivor” back in your pocket 
I do not wish to see it or hear it 
How dare you glorify my pain  
And try to assign it some purpose so you never have an uncomfortable
feeling 
About a world that’s kept me on my knees 
How do you feel when you use that word 
That erases my experience through misunderstood worth? 
These words that you seem to think are high praise 
Give away 
What you’re really trying to say 
It’s not welcome here 
Take it away.  

I had to diagnosed myself.