I Am 'First' A Human Being Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

I had walked around for decades,
Feeling and shouldering emotional pain.

When I decided I had nothing to gain...
By accepting this as an invitation,
To prove I could endure...
With a strength to regard as bravery?
No one had to point out to me,
Just how crazy this was.

I am 'first' a human being!
And I no longer have to adapt to that fact.
To me that has been shown.
And to others I make that known!

I am 'first' a human being!
Any other layers some choose to address...
I have learned to let it be expressed.
But to cause me stress to stay to become effective?
No.
These days I do not live in those times.