I See Things

Gawonii

They gave me a name

a new name

I’m free

not he who listens but He Who Speaks

and they told me that the voices in my head aren’t a curse

but a blessing.

You can’t erase my people

You can’t erase our land

Just like you can’t erase the blood that runs through my veins

It’s red - the color you called us so long ago

If I’m red, then I’m proud 

If I’m brown, then I’m proud

the color doesn’t matter when I have people around

I don’t want to be like you! I want to be me.

I’ve been looked down on so long I don’t know who that’s s’posed to be

These voices took everything, they stripped me bare

I never thought an animal would change my life so much. This is Dedo, he’s been my cat for 11 months and I can honestly say that he is the best things that’s happened to me since my diagnosis. Every day when I come home from class he’s waiting for me by the door, eyes huge, tongue peeking out.

Dedo will never lie to me. I know something isn’t real and I’m hallucinating if he can’t see it and doesn’t react. I know he loves me and needs me because he shows it. He chooses my bed, my lap, and comes to me for food. I need to be needed by him.

We have bananas