You Can’t Bully Me

Lisa Strawn. “You Can’t Bully Me.” 

Why do you bully me?
Is it because I’m smart, funny,
Or because I have red hair?
Is it because I love everyone
And you are filled with hate?
Why do you bully me?
Maybe because I’m transgender.
I didn’t give you the right
To physically, mentally,
And sexually assault me.
You think you won, but you didn’t.
What you did to me made me try harder each day
To not be the victim, but to be strong and structured. 

By you being my bully;
The times you laughed, whispered, pointed at me,
And called me hurtful names
Made me see that you were a lost person.
What you’ve done hasn’t made me angry at the world.
You helped me to be the most wonderful,
Kind, respectful woman that I need to be.

So, while you bullied me,
And some still may do,
You are the very reason
I will never be you.
For you are very sad and alone in your life.
But for anyone that has ever been bullied,
And for the 21 transgenders murdered last year,
And the 18 reported transgender suicides in the U.S.,
This is for you.

I will live and die knowing that the bully never wins.
You will live your life filled with hate
And never know
That the lives you’ve taken from this earth were precious.
And I won’t be your victim.
I never was,
Because those who have been bullied
And are not here, live and breathe inside of me.
So, the transgender who is smart, funny
And has red hair will always be a winner,
Because you can’t bully me. 

Lisa Strawn, 201271, CMS Beckerville. “You Can’t Bully Me.” 

These commentaries are recorded by Noel Hanrahan of Prison Radio.