I Am Me

Tasha, they used to say
But Tasha never was,
This figment of your imagination has never existed
And it never will
So why do you insist
Because this is a form of degradation
I am not your daughter and I never was
And never will I be

Tasha, the teachers would say
Is SHE here?
Hesitantly, I say here but SHE is not me
That person is not here but what else can I say
I say time and time again “SHE is not here”
But my words fall upon deaf ears
And I scream “SHE is not here”
But they refuse to listen
They refuse to hear

I go to the courts and plead my case
“Tasha is not here, SHE never was”
But
I am here
Who I am is here
But who am I
Will again my words fall upon deaf ears?
Or will you hear me?
Will you listen?

Shaun, they now say.
But some still refuse
This person is real
This person is me, has always been, and will always be.
Why do you resist?
Because I am who I am and I cannot change
I am your son and I have always been
And I will always be

Shaun, the professors say.
Is HE here?
And boldly I scream "Yes,I am here."
HE is here.
Because I am a man and I have always been.
Even though you have refused to see
That I am not you, I am me
I am not she, I am he
And I am Shaun the man I was meant to be.
I am me.