Please do not reduce me
Can you please listen to me when I’m sharing what feels important?
Please do not reduce me to a machine made of flesh
I’m not an object for you to push, poke and prod
I’m a human being just—like—you
Please do not reduce me to a structure that you can analyze
I’m not a building with a failing foundation
I’m a human being just—like—you
Please do not reduce me to a vehicle of levers and tubes
I’m not a car that needs its tires aligned and oil changed
I’m a human being just—like—you
Please do not reduce me to a problem,
I’m not a problem.
I’m a human being just—like—you, or maybe not
It’s hard for me to feel your humanity
Please believe me when I tell you that I am in pain
If you can’t help me please refrain from making it my fault
Please don’t tell me that my pain is all in my head
Pick a number on the pain scale between one and ten
Ha ha, you don’t know pain if you are asking me this question
My pain is exquisite, pervasive, permeating through the ground of my being
My pain is transmitted through history and entangled with the substrates of my existence
My pain is made up of countless ghosts
Pain is the dis—integrated self howling outside my door
Well intentioned touch is worthless if the impact in poor