He’s not a problem child,

He’s not crazy,

Not unhinged,

Not attention-seeking,

Not being difficult,

He’s struggling to be heard,

He’s been silenced,

He’s been gagged,

Like a bird without a song,

A singer without a voice,

He’s struggling to be seen,

He’s been shadowed,

He’s been obscured,

Like the sun behind a rain cloud

Like an unsung hero,

He’s struggling to be free,

He’s been caged,

He’s been held captive,

Like a genie trapped in a lamp,

A lamp with no light,

He’s struggling to get up,

He’s been held down,

And kept underfoot,

With a bootheel across his back,

And an albatross around his neck,

He’s not a problem child,

He’s not crazy,

Not unhinged,

Not attention-seeking,

Not being difficult,

He just wants to be free to be himself!