I know you only let yourself get hurt\
I know you only hear what you want from those words
I try to remember that we live our lives, separate from one another

I was confronted by a fueled assumption,
my intention misinterpreted by word text comment on a Facebook thread.
Part of me is stubborn, defending my arrangement, part of me feels sorry, for the way that it was said.
I didn't mean it the way you thought that I meant it, but what was said was still said and you're offended

You said “it doesn't matter what your intent is, watch your mouth and the way you form sentence. All women have been oppressed, most people don't even know it, I know you respect women but that last comment doesn't show it, Your words are held accountable, you should know this, you're a poet”

Damn, you're right, maybe this isn't my place, to speak out and defend the words I didn't mean to say
I want to respect all people, not leave any room for hate, but I'm unsure of how to be useful when bringing up this case

Can I hashtag black lives matter, identify with that race?
Can I march at pride, say all love’s equal even if I'm not gay?
Should I speak out about the pain of rape culture if I've never been raped?
These topics are controversial and affect me in colossal ways
but I'm scared, I'm unprepared, and not ready to face the shame

This isn't white, male, guilt
these are the confusing contradictions this white male feels

Being oppressed is embedded in all of us,
I cause pain without the acknowledgement
I strive to better understand the way I can
uplifted this evil spell programming created by man

To liberate through my message. speak for the unmentioned
give hands to the unattended, eliminate discrimination, prove that love is endless

Thank you for helping me make subtle changes
my heart grows stronger when I see my weaker places
forgive me if I ever offend, you're my friend, and thank you for your patients