Picking up the pieces is never easy especially when you've been broken into so many pieces you will truly never be put back together in the same way as you were before. Poem By Shelby Kathleen Nightingale

I’ve hit a block
i need through but
there’s a firm door stopped
I can’t get in
there’s a lock

this door
is causing to my death
it’s the cause to my suffering
it’s the cause to my stress

on the other side
oh you’ll be lucky
cause one might find
the good
the proud
those nice green fields you were hoping for
all on the other side of the door

but i’m stuck on one and you’re stuck on another
you can’t begin to understand me
so please don’t bother
i’m not stuck in the middle i’m stuck on one side
can’t move my feet even if i try

this door
is causing to my death
it’s the cause to my suffering
it’s the cause to my stress
it’s hopeful
cause maybe me trying hard to get through
is just
not.

Since I was a kid
I’ve never really felt
like “one of the girls”
From the beginning,
                
                                          ­             I
knew I was different
I didn’t know how
or what or why
just that I made no
              
                                                      sense
I’d always play
with the boys
but sometimes
I wasn’t allowed to play
                
                                      ­                 the
games they did.
I was a “girl”
and girls were not
strong like a “real”
              
                                                        man
I was a lonely kid,
few friends, at least,
after grade 5.
I just knew I didn’t fit
              
                                                         in
I know what I am now
It’s called trans, but
I’m still stuck
in this thing called
              
                                                          me

You're broken
But you need to focus
Pick up the pieces and put them together
If you would just ever
Stop and look at what you've accomplished
You'd be astonished
And maybe If I told you
you're not realizing
That I wanna be you
it might come as surprising
Because what I'm actually saying
is I think you're naturally amazing

I will not wear what everyone else thinks I should
no, I will wear whatever makes me feel good
and if that's ripped jeans and an oversized tee shirt,
if that's what makes me feel good, then that is who I'll be
and there is nothing anyone can do about it,
for I'm just being me