You Know What Hurts

By: Zander Glynn

When racial slurs are used against you

When people leave you out because of your skin color

When people look at you because of your skin

When you know you’re different

When someone spits at you because of your skin

When your own family won’t talk to you

When your friends you call brothers leave you

When the person that you have trusted has given away your secrets

When the one you love most isn’t there anymore

When your own parents give up on you

When the one you loved died but you left some words unsaid

When your friend’s parents wouldn’t let you hang because of your skin

When deep down in your heart you know you’re doing wrong

When you look in the mirror and you are not satisfied

When you wake up and you still feel pain

When you see the ones around you hurt

When you hide your pain with a smile

When you need to be strong but you don’t want to

Now You Know What Hurts