just be.....

don't jump on board
because you think
it's cool
don't try to speak
in a new way
because you want to
be more
effective
don't ride the wave
because you heard
it's what some people
were doing
don't give me words
that you don't mean
just live your life
and be who you are
and be open
and real
and out there
tell me what it is
that makes you passionate
and in love
and angry
tell me when you are alive
and dead
and be real
don't try
just be
whoever it is
you are
there is no need
to be someone else
i'll love you
just the same
i'll respect you
just the same
i don't want you
to read a book
listen to a sermon
read an article
or take a class
to talk to me
just talk
and be
someone told you
that i would respond
if you used the right words
and acted a certain way
they put me in a box
and told you
i was this way
but they were wrong
the entire point
is that
i can not be
contained
there is no box
there are no more
rules
it's all over the place
just like our lives
that surround us
don't be someone
you are not
don't try to reach me
i am not a demographic
i am not a generation
i am not an age of history
i am a person
i am real
i am who i am
and i want to be heard
love
and respected
just the same
and i will do the same
for you
and i will listen
don't be offended if i don't agree
or if i'm different
we don't
have to agree
or think the same
we can simply learn
from one another
and love who we are
just be
who you are
and i'll be
who i am
and together
we'll learn