The Boy

The boy said
I also need my own space —
Not a room
Shared with others
Where at night
Or during the day
I hide under the covers
To read
Or not read

I need sex
I need the breast, the body of woman
To hold
And caress
To kiss
And enter

I need to be heard
I need to speak and be listened to
I want my awkwardness
My weakness
My needs
Understood
Without me spelling them out

I want the parts of me
That have been shamed
And belittled —
Loved
Accepted
Brought to light
Embraced
And healed

You forsook me
He said
For the shine
Glitter, and noise
Of the world —
For the tastes
Smells, and sights
For momentary reliefs
And embraces

All the experiences you had —
I had imagined
I was there
Before you learned to spell your name
Before you knew what words meant

I carried —
In spirit
In potential —
All that you were to materialise
Everything you would sense
And feel

I am the seed
And you forsook me
For branches
Leaves
Fruits