You Say, I Say

• Kaokab Marroun, Grade 10
• Poetry
• 2011

“Pray!” You say,
“What prayer?” Not mine.
“Dress!” You say,
“What clothing?” Not mine.
You say, “respect me!”
I say, “respect myself”.
You say, “beauty is for the world to see”,
I say, “beauty is modesty”.
You say, “this is who you are”,
I say, “I am who I am”
You believe in power and respect from birth,
I believe in the earning of these things.
You want me to stay the same,
But it’s up to me so I will change.