What Its Like To Be Me

Does anyone know what its like to be me?
to be black, Puerto Rican, and Italian and
to grow up with no recognition for who I am
other than what is seen on the color of my skin.

do you know what its like to be me?
to have slept around to find that one true love
and to search and search but never find her because
every girl wanted a kick and not a soul mate.

do you really know what its like to be me?
to have my pride knocked down so many times
because the poetic rhythm I have in every line
people laugh at and treat it like its a waste of time.

no, you don't know me.
no you don't know my parents split up when I was six
or before that they would fight over the smallest shit.
you don't know I'm diagnosed with scoliosis,
and you don't know my first best friend died a week
after our two year friendship anniversary.
you don't know I almost got arrested on my birthday.
you don't know what its like to be me.