Two Spirited

by Riley James

Two spirits joined in one body,

two halves of a whole being.

A combination of weak and strong;

dominant and submissive;

feminine and masculine;

hard and soft,

A special soul, the ancients called

this person. A wise and knowing

individual who could see into

two worlds.

Respected no longer,

now this person is

feared and reviled,

ostracized and overlooked.

Why can a soul not have

multiple qualities?

What is wrong with

compassion and aggression

holding hands?

How come a woman cannot be

pretty and butch

or a man not be

rugged yet angelic?

I want to be surrounded

by these creatures at all times.

The world would be

perfect for me

if everyone tried to understand

the mind of a two-spirited

individual.

If no one judged, no one hated.

Since the world is far from perfect,

I will only hope that

someday the ancient wisdom

will return

and

we will all love each other

for who we are

on the inside.