Illinois Verse: An introduction

Our newest columnist introduces themselves with some poetry.

I Am
I am
A poet
A child
A friend
A reader
A sibling
A student
A scholar
A seamstress
A disabled person
A nonbinary person
A kind, loving person
A persevering person
A considerate person
A passionate person
An honest person
A decent person
A quiet person
An antisocial
A shy person
An introvert
A recluse
Even so
I am
Me

About This Poem:

This poem serves as a more creative way of introducing myself, and is inspired by two other poems that I have written in the past. I felt that I needed to write this poem because although i did write a short bio of myself for this website, I don’t think it goes far enough. I wanted to explain who I was and why I’m here, and I think this poem does just that. Well, I call it a poem, but it’s more of a list than a poem. But even so, it’s still very poetic in my perspective (although I might be biased here). Anyways, it’s nice to meet you.

What I’m Thankful For

This time of year, it’s nice to slow down and reflect upon life
Having to put up with so much garbage in my day to day life
All I’m thankful for is being born in the right time and place
No time or place can compare in the progress we have made
Kids like me, who are different, have their own communities
Still, there’s always more that we can do to ensure our safety
Garbage people are trying to ruin the progress that we made
Iit’s already started; they’re trying to make everything trash
Vacancies in common sense are the reasons why it’s started
It’s a downright shame, but all we can do is hold on to hope
Not knowing what tomorrow brings, I’m thankful for today
Grateful for the life I live even if my rights might be taken

About This Poem:

Since Thanksgiving will soon be upon us, I thought I would write a poem for the occasion. However, there’s not really much to celebrate right now, as America isn’t a great place for LGBT people right now. But with that being said, I still havve hope for this place, and I wanted to share that feeling with you. So here you go.

My Place At The Table

I want a place at the table
I want the same food as you
Even in despite of my label
It’s a dream that’s not a fable
To me, it’s something true
I want a place at the table
The news you see on cable
Doesn’t say what I can do
Even in despite of my label
If only we could enable
The others saying it too
I want a place at the table
Even if society is unstable
I’ll join all of those who
Even in despite of my label
Choose to break the fable
And fight to break through
I want a place at the table
Even in despite of my label

About This Poem:

This poem is inspired by a memory I have of a family Thanksgiving. As a fat kid, my family didn’t want me to eat like they did that day. Specifically, my family didn’t want me to have a rather large piece of pumpkin pie. Today, that’s what I think of when I hear people spouting extreme rhetoric against the LGBT community in regards to our legal rights. It’s like the extremists are my family and our rights are the pie. But you know what? I got that pie that day anyways, and our community isn’t giving up until we are treated equally despite whatever other people think about who we are.

In These Trying Times

In these trying times, we must hold fast our convictions
Especially since what we sew in this world, we must reap
Much is wrong in the world, but we musn’t hold ourselves to restrictions
Unless if you want to give yourself another affliction
There’s a certain code of honor that only you can keep
In these trying times, we must hold fast our convictions
And we must not give in to the images of us that are depicted
Rather allow only what’s positive though our conscious minds seep
Much is wrong in the world, but we musn’t hold ourselves to restrictions
Because we are the ones who are responsible for maledictions
We can’t just keep following each other blindly like sheep
In these trying times, we must hold fast our convictions
One day the world will be under a fair and orderly jurisdiction
But before that can happen, we must take one large faithful leap
Much is wrong in the world, but we musn’t hold ourselves to restrictions
For a better you and me, I give this prescription
Although the road to a better world may look steep
In these trying times, we must hold fast our convictions
Much is wrong in the world, but we musn’t hold ourselves to restrictions

About This Poem:

In conclusion of this month’s dispatch, I wanted to write something with a positive message. I feel inspired to do so because we see so much negativity in the news and in our daily lives. I want people like me to know that I hear you, and there are things that you can do to make things better for yourself. I know what I’m talking about in this poem is a lot easier said than done. However, I think that you can do it. And until next time, please take care of yourself as I am trying to do the very same alongside you.

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