You wonder why I wear this ring in my nose.
Perhaps you think
it is just a sign
of youthful rebellion?
I'll be the first to admit-
originally,
Yes. It was.
There I was,
a quiet girl
of a tender age,
with little self confidence,
a mask,
and a tale to rival Persephone.
Wanting to scream.
trying desperately to find her voice.
So, I made a voiceless statement.
"Here I am world!"
It was but one
small act of pain,
but never again
would I be quite the same.
I found my voice. My self, I changed.
I let out my rage. let out my pain.
And I screamed
at the top of my lungs
again and again:
"Here I am world!
I am ready!"
And I set sail.
fearless in a turbulent sea
going wherever the winds
wanted me to be.
Sometimes hungry, tired, humble
on the street-
laughing at strangers, whose eyes
would never dare to meet
Although my voice a whisper
amongst the crowd-
still I would stand up
hungry, dirty, yet thankful and proud
And I would not be afraid to speak:
"Here I am world!
I am ready!
I wear no mask."
The winds,
they took me
to and fro
but rudderless,
I lost my way-
I did not know where to go.
And so I cried out:
"Here I am world!
I am ready!
I wear no mask.
These are the places I have been.
These are the things I have seen."
And I was gifted with an anchor
I came ashore.
I kissed the ground,
and started striving for more.
I planted some seeds
and now they grow.
Why I will always wear this?
Perhaps now,
you know.
And I openly state:
"Here I am world!
I am ready!
I wear no mask.
These are the places I have been.
These are the things I have seen.
This is what I have learned."
Here I am world.
I am ready.
