Tolerance Isn't the Acceptance of Something You Think is Wrong, But the Understanding that Different is Okay

This is a poem dedicated to all those, who after years of surviving the tortures of nonacceptance decided you would no longer sacrifice self.  I see you....and you are absolutely beautiful, just the way you are.

Hollowed Bones

there should be a bit more substance here
but it keeps getting syphoned out
sucked from the recesses, hidden behind
all the things which fear stresses
their eyes look way too fragile
don't want to point their weaknesses out
tear ducts brimming from being beat into submission
swimming up shit's stream in awkward positions
it's been
piled upon them, it's been poured into their brains
the world twisted their existence when they
labeled them as strange, contorted
into feeling different, as if different were some
scarlet lettering for which they should be socially hanged
but haven't we had enough necks broken
too many dreams used as branches
and self-esteems turned to roping
constricting the images of hollowed out beings
what a shame
that they've become such fragile, broken things
bent into positions where they must contemplate being
true to self or become something else
something more acceptable, so the whispers don't stab
something that won't cause the so called normal to jab holes into the few
inches of stability that they still have
left, a word thought opposite of right
but is it really wrong if it's all they've ever known?
we've all been something somebody didn't approve of
sick of keeping hands gloved, and hearts closeted
lying just to fit in, there's been massive suicide to self-awareness
and we're the ones who caused it
screaming fag, dike, geek, bitch, kike, spic, nigger
because bigotry is bigotry
any way you figure and
so called bottom boys and jungle bunnies can both relate to
hoods of oppression
we just choose to talk about one much less, maybe we should
stop trying to force confessions and instead enforce acceptance
look at difference as a state of being and not make it
some problem, screaming heaven help them
because I've been them, and you've been me
all of us, trapped into the box of some label
that squeezed so tight the walls bled
spilling pints of who we are against
who society said we had to be
there should be a bit more substance here
but it keeps getting syphoned out
keeps getting stripped from minds that always find
it hard to have peace or build up the spine
to simply be self, so instead rattle off lines
actors, worried because the weight of the world
keeps yelling for them
to straighten up


[END POEM]

Racism, sexism, homophobia, etc....nontolerance is the antecedent of hate, and we all know how hate works out.  Open your hearts and minds.

the Rare Poet