I Reserve the Right

I reserve the right to be free,
the right to food and water,
the right to shelter.

I reserve the right to look ridiculous,
the right to be embarrassed,
or shy and self-conscious.
I reserve the right to be bold and confident.

I reserve the right to sulk,
the right to be miserable...
to wallow in self-pity
and cry.
I reserve the right to be joyous.

I reserve the right to be happy,
the right to be glad,
to laugh
and be silly.
I reserve the right to look foolish.

I reserve the right to be wrong,
the right to make mistakes,
to change my mind...
regret.
I reserve the right to be content.

I reserve the right to fight my corner,
to defend my rights and fight for justice.
I reserve the right to run away.

I reserve the right to protect my family by any means neccessary,
the right to keep them safe.
I reserve the right to be scared.

I reserve the right to learn,
the right to listen
and to speak.
I reserve the right to be silent.

I reserve the right to feel self-important,
the right to be proud,
self-satisfied...
smug.
I reserve the right to be ashamed of myself.

I reserve the right to be feminine,
the right to glam up,
pile on the lip-gloss...
feel sexy.
I reserve the right to be dowdy.

I reserve the right to be in love,
the right to display my emotion,
to be gushingly romantic.
I reserve the right to be heartbroken.

I reserve the right to crumble,
the right to be defensive,
to be emotionally detached...
build a wall.
I reserve the right to fall in love over and over.

I reserve the right to live in peace,
the right to care,
to campaign
and shout out.
I reserve the right to do nothing.

I reserve the right to be indignant,
the right to be angry...
to be mad
sad
glad
elated
deflated
euphoric
tired
nothing.

I reserve the right to be human.