Poem - Not Like the Others

I approve the push back to the “I’m not like the other girls” movement. I agree with the observation: “the movement should really be called the ‘I don’t want me to treat me the way they treat other women’ movement”. Why? I reside in some social groups that could state “I’m not like the other X” in order to dodge the schizophrenic criticisms of a larger society. I could be damned by the larger rules of my world. What to about this? Should I run from who I am? Perhaps not. I am a unique person, in my self-created diversity, and I would love to see the phrase understood from a place of empowerment. I’m not like the other X, but that’s OK, because I am pretty incredible for all of that.


Not Like the Others

“I’m not like the other ones”
says the wounded soul out loud
running from the enemy
throwing bodies in the way

respect is stolen from the whole
in a vain attempt to rise above
the wounding words all around
with no escape, high or low

the phrase is found at sword’s edge
escape is sought from the rage
criticism that makes no sense
yet all are held as nature’s goal

these are words thrust to shield
when a world seeks to judge
what’s been done is in defense
from a place where there’s no win

respect is the crux, the goal sought
sadly we attack ourselves
when it’s not given by the ones
who set the rules that contradict

it is true that we diverge
I’d like say that this is the norm
respect is found in our own space
so let’s reclaim the words’ power.

© 2017. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20170722.