A/N: I wrote this some years back when I was in a rather dark place, and I found it on my laptop again and thought it would make a nice tribute to all those characters in Greek mythology that I connect to so deeply and that really helped me cope and find myself. I've re-written some bits and added others on.

Disclaimer: I don't own... wait... I actually do own this poem... huh... okay, lets try this again shall we?

Non-disclaimer: I do, in fact, own this poem. In your face suckas! (Not that this is good enough for anyone to want to steal it but still).

I was eight the first time someone called me that word
I didn't know the word so I pretended I hadn't heard
When I got home I asked mummy what it meant to be called a 'freak'
(What a funny word I thought, sounds like what I want to be when I grow up - 'Greek')
She looked at me sadly and didn't say a word
With a frown and a shake of her head she told me to go feed my bird

I'm older now, I'm almost eleven
And I know there's a hell, I'm friends with the devil
I've learnt so much
Like what that word means
Among several other unpleasant things

I know there's a hierarchy
I don't belong in it
Even the outcasts have admitted
I'm too much of a misfit

I was reminded of that fact nearly every day
'Sticks and stones may break my bones but words are ghosts that haunt me'
As the saying goes
Well as far as sayings go
This is one I won't oppose

The words did hurt me most
(Maybe this once I'll admit that perhaps they still do)
Though I never let them see that they got to me
Not even when they pushed me into that giant oak tree

I scraped my knee but I didn't cry
(Never let them see you cry)
My blood was dirty and I ripped my clothes
(Never let anyone get too close)
I told my teacher that I tripped and fell
But I knew that she could tell

I also know that I'm not pretty
I know I'm not the most well dressed
I'm not the most popular
And in regards to God?
Well I know that I'm not blessed
I'm not even the smartest
But I did my best
Though that doesn't matter
"You should have aced that test!"

I was eleven or tweleve
No more than thirteen
Eating lunch alone at a very new school
I turned my head to the side, and started at what I'd seen
A girl, and she seemed to brighten up the scene

I hated myself then
Even more than before
Because I could tell I liked that girl
And sentiment I would always abhor

And that's the way that society works
We see the world in shades of black and white
We leave no space for grey
And according to society
Their way is the only right way

You have to be smart or you have to be dumb
You have to be strong or you have to be weak
And if you don't accept those stereotypes?
Well then you're a freak

It's one or two years later
I've realised many things about myself -
I like girls and I like boys (and everything between)
And I'm not exactly what society calls a 'conventional teen'
You see I want to transition to a male when I turn eighteen

But the most important thing that I've learnt so far
Is that there are no rules
I don't have to label myself
Labels are for cans, just be who you are