to speak to someone,
you must first address them
or they will never know
it's them who you are speaking to
that old name
the one your parents gave you
the one they yell when they
mistreat you
that is not your name
that is not you
so i address you by your real name
because i am not trying to speak
to the facade your parents
have created
the broken child they have
silenced
the lie that the world
has groomed
no, i am not speaking to the mask
that you wear everyday
i am speaking to you
so i will address you
not a cardboard cutout
of who you are
a picture is worth a thousand words
but a single word can mean everything
so you are ollie
and that is all i know you to be
