Allow Me to Dream

 

I’m not fool enough to believe that a Utopian world would ever exist, 

but I do believe it’s possible to live in a world where I am able to feel safe -- 

A world where I feel safe from the hatred of others,

A world where my children don’t feel the need to defend me or my love for them.

I mean, if I was taught to love and accept everyone and have grown up only seeing love,

Why isn’t it possible for others to do the same?

Because, when I look out, I don’t see labels,

I see people who want to love and belong and be accepted.

People who work and try 

Who laugh and cry

Who hurt and feel joy

People who just want to be accepted for who they are -- 

Not what they are.

Allow me to dream that at some point in my life,

I won’t see the tears of sadness on others faces because someone was hateful to them

Allow me to dream that at some point in my life,

I don’t have to stop a young gentleman from throwing a wet paper towel at a girl as she passes by him in the hall.

Allow me to dream that at some point in my life,

I will never feel the shame when someone only sees my short hair and then tells, “sir, you’re going into the wrong bathroom.”

Allow me to dream that at some point in my life,

People won’t judge me by the clothes I wear, my lack of makeup, or the extra pounds I carry

Allow me to dream that at some point in my life,

People won’t judge me for the skin I’m in, but be willing to see the person inside.

Allow me to dream that at some point in my life,

Love really will be the only thing that matters -- not my name, not my color, not friends, and not the people that make up my family.

Rachael Collins