Scoliosis Tree

I’m not ashamed 

that my spine is a twisted tree 

that its branches grow crookedly  

That the things protecting just how I breathe 

show unevenly 

it doesn't upset me 

It doesn’t upset me  

that my spine needs a brace to grow  

as tall as it can be 

that it’s not like  

the other straight young trees 

it doesn’t upset me 

It doesn’t upset me 

so when you tell me to get surgery  

to slice open my bark, insert a branch from a straight young tree 

don’t take it personally, when I tell you where to stick that ideology  

because 

it doesn’t upset me 

It doesn’t upset me 

I’m not ashamed