Sports

I hate sports, there I’ve said it.
They stink and they’re no fun.

I hate sports, yes I’ve said it.
I hate each and every one.

The teachers think that sports are great.
They’re what kids like to do.

But if you’ve ever been picked last
You know that isn’t true.

So what if you can hit a ball
Or jump or catch or throw?

When teacher says it’s time for gym
My mind says No No NO!

You are not a better person
Because sports work for you.

It doesn’t mean you’re smart or kind
Or brave or sweet or true.

It simply means you’re good in gym
That’s fine, I think that’s swell.

But if you just plain stink at sports
Gym is a living hell.

How ’bout we change things up a bit
And make ballet the thing.

And no more football, just Swan Lake
That would be dazz- a- ling!

And then some tap and modern dance
Let’s see how that would go.

And no pep rally in the fall
Instead, a dancing show

Someday I hope we change our way
That would be cool and bold.

For now, take heart, this too shall pass.
There’s no gym class when you’re old!

 

 

 

 

 

My Friends

It’s hard for me to talk to kids
My tongue gets in the way.
My thoughts are all a jumble
And I don’t know what to say.

But I have friends you can’t believe
Who visit when they can.
There’s Audrey, she’s from Little Shop
And then there’s Peter Pan.

Oh how I love my Broadway friends.
I love the things they say.
We like to sing and laugh and talk
They’re the best in every way.

I don’t care if they’re real to you
For they are real to me.
And they give me more enjoyment
Than kids that you can see.

So when you think I am talking
To myself, that no one is there.
I’m really having a grand old time
Rehearsing with Javier.

 

 

Seven Years Old

I’m seven years old and I’m different
And my friends just couldn’t care less.
My family accepts me for who I am
And for that I am totally blessed.
But sometimes I hear grown-ups talking
The thing they’re discussing sounds bad.
They’re saying some stuff that is awful and cruel
And the language they use makes me sad.

What if their words effect all my friends
And show them it’s easy to hate?
Of course I’ll remind them that I am just me
But the truth is I may be too late.
The problem is easy to spot if you look
It’s the grown-ups, it’s not girls and boys.
They think ’cause I’m different that I must be bad
And they’re loud and they make lots of noise

About how it’s better if we’re all the same
That’s the way that they think things should be.
But they are not right and what’s even worse
Is the impact their words have on me.
If they looked past the ways I am different.
They would see how alike we are
Except I’m more kind and loving and fair
And a much better person by far.

 

Color

I met a girl and fell in love.
That’s great, our families say.
Most everything about us fits
In every single way.

We both like art, we both like sports
We love to travel too.
Running and reading and dancing
That’s what we like to do.

But there are folks who think we’re wrong
Cause her skin’s brown, mine’s white.
Our color creates a problem?
In what world is that right?

We’re talking pigmentation here
They cannot be for real.
The color of a person’s skin
Is simply no big deal.

It’s absolutely meaningless
And more than that, it’s wrong.
To try and separate us
When clearly we belong

Together in this silly world
Where love is hard to find.
So they’ll just have to come around
Or they’ll be left behind.

With all of their old thinking
And all of their old ways
The world is changing, and guess what?
These are the good old days.

Fear

Standing on the diving board
I’m hoping to jump in.
No one else is scared to death
Not Matt or Josh or Em.

Not Spencer, he’s a natural.
He runs, then bombs away.
But here I stand knees shaking
I close my eyes and pray.

Come on, just let me do it.
And do it in a flash.
Just move, come on, start running
Make one big, awesome splash

But I just stand here frozen
I guess that would be fine
Except for kids complaining
‘Bout the hold up on the line

That’s fanning out behind me
I’m clogging up the works.
“Come on, let’s go, we’re waiting”
Is yelled by all the jerks

Okay, here goes, I’m moving
This day may be my last.
I’m falling to the water
And really falling fast.

But wait, that’s it, it’s over?
Well that was no big deal.
My fear has failed to stop me
Now pride is all I feel.

I’m laughing and I’m hooting
My grin’s from ear to ear.
I’m fearless now, a diver
The best darn diver here.

As I continue diving
Over and over all day
The only thing I’m thinking
Is one, two, bombs away.

 

What Makes a Family

They say love makes a family,
And I would say that’s right.
They’re people that live together
Who laugh and talk and fight.

Sometime you have a Mom and Dad
Sometimes two Dads, a son.
Sometime two Moms, sometimes three kids
Hold on, I’ve just begun.

You might have Grandma, Grandpa too.
No kids upon the scene.
Just folks with lots of love to give
Who try not to be mean.

There might be sisters and a dog
Or just no pets at all
There might be uncles and some Aunts
A cousin who is tall.

Some go to work and some stay home
The kids must go to school
But who’s a member of your group
Won’t follow any rule.

No matter how your family looks
It’s language, size, or hue.
If you feel loved and you feel safe,
It’s a family through and through.

Me

They say I’m strong, I know my mind.
Those words just make me laugh.
When we are born we’re who we are
We’re on a certain path.

Yes,  I know how I want to act
What clothes I want to wear.
Folks think I’m brave and self assured
They think I just don’t care.

But I am fighting all of you
By standing straight and tall.
I don’t fit in, that may be true
There is no choice at all

For you would say that I’m a boy
That’s what most people see.
But underneath I am a girl
And underneath is me.

Labels

Sounds are incredibly loud to me.
They ricochet in my head.
And please, no touching, it’s not my thing
Just smile when you talk instead.

“He’s just strange,  he’s an oddball, he’s weird.”
That what’s been said by many.
They have no idea of how I feel.
They aren’t aware of any

Of the thoughts that I am thinking of
How really smart that I am.
It’s the social things that trip me up
I wish they could understand.

There are many facets to people.
How they walk, and talk, and play.
That’s why snap judgements may let you down
And often get in the way

Of actually knowing a person
Finding how you can relate.
So take some time and give it a try
Or else it may be too late

To really see who someone may be
Not the silly surface stuff.
You may connect on the tiniest point
But one point may be enough

To start a relationship growing
You must nurture it with care.
You may find you have a lifelong friend
A person who’ll always be there

To help when the times get really tough
Or just for a pleasant day.
It takes effort to know a person.
Don’t let labels get in the way.