This poem

is dedicated to the memory of an amazing and inspirational musician

known as Kurt Cobain.

Depression is a demon.

We all have them.

Never be afraid to be yourself

and express your feelings.

Show your true colors,

let your freak flag fly,

just be yourself.

To make the world a better place,

we must accept

and love each other

for not what we are,

but who we are.

In this world,

in this lifetime,

we are all different things:

male,

female,

transgender,

cisgender,

gender nonconforming,

genderfluid,

bigender,

agender,

androgynous,

monogamists,

polyamorous,

white,

black,

Hispanic,

American Samoa,

Asian,

Christian,

Jewish,

Muslim,

Hindu,

Buddhist,

Agnostic,

Satanist,

Atheist,

gay,

straight,

lesbian,

bisexual,

pansexual,

polysexual,

asexual,

queer,

democrat,

republican,

independent,

green,

libertarian,

reform,

liberal,

conservative,

young,

old,

healthy,

disabled,

skinny,

overweight,

mentally healthy,

mentally ill,

no learning disabilities,

dyslexic,

autistic,

addicts,

non-addicts,

and whatever other group I forgot to include.

The point is

that we are all one.

Kurt Cobain

of Nirvana

once said

“Come as you are,”

which he wrote

as an attack

on the norms

society wants us

to conform to,

which Kurt excelled

at not conforming

to society’s norms.

He is telling us

not to conform

to the norms

that society says we have to follow.

So no matter what religion you practice,

no matter what the color of your skin is,

no matter who you love,

and no matter what gender you identify as,

never

ever

conform to what society says you have to be,

be yourself.