Poem: Eyes Deceived

They see my glasses
My Star Wars tees
My toys
My books
My movies and TV shows.
They hear my voice
My fandom references.
They write me off
As nerd and geek
Nothing special.
They see I’m short
They see me trip
Drop things
Stumble around.
They hear my ragged breath
See the sweat pour forth
They assume I’m weak.
Unfit.
They see with their eyes
They hear with their ears
They smell with their nose
They are deceived.
For I have struggled
And lost
And failed.
And picked myself up
Again and again.
I fight an inner battle
Every moment of every day.
I know myself
My darkness
My light.
My body
Is far stronger
More resilient
Than they know.
My heart
My will
My soul
Is far greater
Than they perceive.
Precisely because
Of my struggles and pain
I have been forged
Into the sword
I am.
An agent of the Spirit
A member of the Body
A partner
In Her redemptive plan.