Prose – haylesmaree

If you’re not exhausted, you’re “lazy”

I live the kind of life that makes relaxation feel like a radical act.

©haylesmaree

You assured me of your solid understanding

…but gender and sexuality are fluid.

©haylesmaree

When you speak to yourself, do you ever get anxious that

you’re going to say the wrong thing?

©haylesmaree

If even you aren’t sure what you think of you,

why does it matter what they do?

©haylesmaree

The map she once used for her heart,

she now uses as a blanket.

©haylesmaree

Ever had the validity of your relationship assessed by the nation?

Then don’t tell me you understand.

Tell me you’re enraged.

Tell me you’re disgusted.

Tell me you cannot believe how low humanity has stooped.

But don’t you dare tell me that you understand.

Unless your worth & human rights are being dangled among legislatures like a bill,

you and your fellow jury need to remain exceptionally quiet until freedom of expression is a right I too can exploit.

You don’t understand, you pity; you condescend & through this reaction, you unknowingly flag me as divergent.

You insult me as an individual by allocating me my own compartment in your over-organised cerebrum,

based on the “type” of love I feel.

I appreciate your support but your support needs to convey a gender-typecast neutral disposition to feel supportive.

Indifference is freedom.

You’ve got it wrong.

You don’t understand; you just stand.

I’m under.

©haylesmaree

You painted me in watercolour,

and sold me in sepia.