Different

I look like my father
would have looked
if he had lived to my age,

but in the photographs he had hair,
and I'm not there.
I never was,
and there is disappointment in his eyes because

I'm different.
I'm different from him.
I'm different from them.

I see the disappointment
and confusion
in my mother's eyes.

I think my family think I'm mad.
I think they're weird,
and treat me badly.
They wanted someone like everyone else but sadly

I'm different.
I'm different from them.
I'm different from her.

I'm different from you.
Even if
you're different too.

© Mark Sheeky. Permission is required for reproduction.