The Things I Carry

You said I’m “too intense”

Then handed me your hurt to hold

Kept my shoulders bent

Under every story you never told

I washed your rage from the dishes

Folded your fears with the clothes

You called it “love” in the good times

Called me “crazy” when I said no

These are the things I carry

Bloodline

Backbone

Every scar

You keep your crown imaginary

I built the kingdom where we are

I’m not your mirror

Not your mother

Not your cage or quiet ghost

These are the things I carry

And I’m setting them down first

You sleep through your apologies

I stay up fixing all the cracks

Counting every small catastrophe

Tied like knots along my back

You walk through doors you never open

I hold the keys

You hold the rules

You get forgiven by the culture

I get labeled “difficult”

[low vocal register] I carried your shame

Like it had my name

I carried your doubt

Till it smothered my mouth

[build] I carried your pride

Like it lived in my spine

But this body is mine

This mind is mine

This life is mine (mine, mine)