You gave me these fists

You gave me eyes that stay wide open
for better or worse, I watch
you gave me small hands that reach out
grasping
let me hold on to you
you let me paint the sky my own colors
my hands slip on the slick paint
smearing some on your clothes

You gave me a mind that never stops searching
never silences
You gave me a spirit to be redeemed
You gave me skin that feels so much pain
You let me suffer
let me scream

You gave me a chest that feels fear
tightens when alone
aches for home
breaks for many
You let me hear the great dissonances of life
and the melody of the ocean

You gave me feet that dance
and kick sand at the ignorant
You gave me these fists that pound your flesh
and are thrown to the sky
You gave me a tongue too quick
deceivingly delicate

You gave me love for others, easily given
easily used up
easily taken
You gave me arms that love to be held
shoulders that can turn cold
but offer themselves to the hurting
You gave me discernment, wit, sarcasm, and the inability to keep my mouth shut in the face of adversity

You let me move
let me weep
let me writhe
and dance
hide
fall
speak.

You made me small, too fragile
thin enough to be snapped in two
so that I must find You
glue me up
tuck my hair behind my ears
punish and tempt me

At the end of it all you are jealous.

I run and you trip me
I search and you say TURN TO ME
I hate myself and you stop me
grab me by these fists and say
"Remember me.

Remember who I am
Remember what I do
Remember that at the end of the day, after boys have used up your spirit and eyes have judged and words have pierced
that you are ACCEPTED because of me

Remember what I have done for you
Remember who hangs in blood for you
Remember that I made you.

I made you.
I made those hands, that heart, those fists.
I made you.

I made you beautiful."