The Space I Occupy

I find myself in that most awkward position

of having to defend myself

having to remind myself

I am not nothing

a space to occupy

with your opinions

and your theories

my tastes are not yours

my feelings not your playground

my words are not your house

for you to scrutinise

as if you own the furniture

as if you can shift it about

to your leasure

I am not a free for all

a dirty candy jar

into which entitled children

get to paw their way through

this is my body

this is my life

these are my experiences

they are not subject to you

or what you think

as if you would hesitate

to kick me in the arse

if I did the same to you

I'm not an opinion

when I'm cut I don't bleed words

when I cry I don't cry theories

I exist as blood and bone

and the space I occupy is me

entirely

you know my boundaries

see to it that you respect them

-o0o-