I am tired of all the barriers
that you cannot perceive
I'm tired of all the implicit messages
that my beautiful brown Oregon-native body takes
up too much space. I'm tired of asking for your advocacy
and being denied.
I'm tired of being told that I'm underqualified and under skilled
for jobs requiring a GED when I have a master's degree
that I worked 60 hours for three and a half years to obtain.
I'm tired of having to assert myself, again, and again, and again
when I only want be treated with the same respect that I give
to myself. With the same respect that I give to you.
I'm tired of being invisible, and it's breaking me.
Perhaps that's what you want.