# Labels

Author: ShingetsuMoon
Tags: Gender, Identity, Poem, Poetry, labels

#27 of National Poetry Writing Month

I think this poem is pretty self explanatory.

* * *

It seems to me that  
people have such a   
love hate relationship  
with labels.

We love them.   
We hate them.

We get angry when  
people don't use them.

We get angry when  
people do use them.

We get upset when they  
are used incorrectly.

We grumble that they  
shouldn't be needed at   
all when they are used  
properly.

We insist that others   
learn how to use them.

We get angry at those  
who innocently label  
people as something  
they are not.

We argue that labels  
should not be necessary  
and that we should all  
just accept each other  
for who they are.

We take comfort in labels  
because they help give us   
an identity and a place  
to fit in in a world that  
all too often makes us   
feel alone and outcast.

We shun labels because  
we don't want to feel  
constrained or chained   
down by the identities  
others would force upon  
us.

We need labels.

We don't need labels.

We need to define ourselves  
somehow.

We shouldn't have to define  
ourselves for the comfort of   
others.

Around and around.  
Back and forth.  
Good and bad.  
Necessary and unnecessary.

When will people  
make up their minds?

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/k1VBLX71
Part of the series National Poetry Writing Month
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