The Nicer You Are

I came in soft, with my hands held high, Said “sorry” to storms that were passing me by. I gave them my seat, gave them room, gave them grace, They thanked me by stepping all over my space. I thought if I’m kind, then the world will be fair, But wolves don’t feel guilty for taking your share. They smiled in my face while they loaded my back, Then called me dramatic for starting to crack. One little push, then another came through, Till I was the floor that they all walked into. I swallowed my anger, I buried my shout, But something inside me was fighting its way out. So I put my (Elbows out!) Elbows out, No more shrinking in the crowd. I was quiet, I was kind, They mistook it for allowed. Now I stand when they press, Now I move when they shout. I was born with a heart, But I learned elbows out. They taught me be patient, be pleasant, behave, Be the nice little soldier, be useful, be brave. Don’t make it awkward, don’t ruin the peace, Just carry the weight while they take what they need. But peace built on silence is just a disguise, A beautiful cage with invisible ties. And every “it’s fine” that I said through my teeth Was a brick in the wall they were building on me. I used to fear anger, rejection, goodbye, So I paid with my spine just to keep people high. But love that demands that I bleed without sound Ain’t love, it’s a chain dressed in holy ground. So I put my (Elbows out!) Elbows out, No more shrinking in the crowd. I was quiet, I was kind, They mistook it for allowed. Now I stand when they press, Now I move when they shout. I was born with a heart, But I learned elbows out. Now I walk through the noise with my jaw unlocked, No begging for keys to a door I can knock. I don’t need permission to take up my place, Don’t need to explain every line on my face. I’m not here to hurt, I’m not here to attack, But touch what is mine and I’m pushing you back. The world doesn’t bow to the soft or polite, So I sharpened my “no” till it sounded like light. Let them call me bitter, let them call me changed, I call it returning from years in a cage. Let them feel the border they never allowed, I’m done being buried to keep them proud. I can be good and still not obey, I can be kind and still walk away. I can have mercy and still have a spine, I can say “yours” without giving you mine. Yeah, (Elbows out!) Elbows out, No more fading in the crowd. I was gentle, I was blind, They mistook it for allowed. Now I breathe, now I choose, Now I stand, now I shout. I was born with a heart, But I learned elbows out. The world pushed first, I just pushed back, Found my name where I lost my track. A heart can be soft, but the spine stays proud... Sometimes to survive, you need elbows out.