I am from sunny days and cold nights

Family and friend gatherings with torch tikis and string lights

Having fun at campsites in the moonlight.

But with my parents in constant fights,

It didn’t seem right

My family split in two,

But strangely I didn’t mind

I really was fine, even though everyone said I wouldn’t be

My dad left and honestly,

I’ve felt free.

But he still has a hold on me

And I don’t want it to be that way.

I want to be myself, without judgement

And I wish I could tell him and my grandparents

About the one thing they’d hate me to be.

“My daughter would never be like that”.

But hey, it’s just me.

Nothing is different

I am still the same.

I’d probably be more open

If you didn’t make me feel so ashamed.

Of myself, of what I am, and what you don’t want me to be.

But lately, I’ve been thinking.

Why does it matter what you think of me?

I don’t care if what you see

Is some lousy daughter

Conforming to the influence of “government and society”

So I thank you

For raising me

Through mind games and play

But you aren’t the reason

For who I am today