Why am I hated for who I love?

This is a poem I wrote for a slam poetry workshop with my french class. This is a translation, so not the best, but it is what it is.

I’ve never had to deal with hate

Because of whom I decided to love

But this isn’t my choice

It’s who I am.

The fact that I feel

Like I do not belong

Because I have been accepted

Is a sad reality.

When I think a little harder

I can see that it’s not true.

I’ve often dealt with hate,

But it was concealed by jokes.

From friends that cannot understand.

It’s never a joke.

So I’m still scared

Of what they think

I say he instead of she

Just in case

The wrong person hears me

And it becomes more that words

That hit me in the face.

Now I’m always ready

To defend myself if need be

From words, or more. 

Author's Note

I'm presenting this in front of a few hundred people and was wondering if anyone had advice. Nothing technical because it will be presented in french, but ideas to add or change.

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

"But this isn’t my choice
It’s who I am."
I like the poem. The french language struggle when translation. Those verb tenses are very different than English verb system. I like the lines above. I tell people. When we must accept who we are. We have gain wisdom. Impossible to make all people happy. Sometime we need to move on and have no concern for the naysayers. You made your point in the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[ayele marie dalmeida]

you can never change yourself for approval. this poem tells that well and i enjoyed it a lot.

[Bradley]

I'm not sure if you have a certain flow in French and if this would throw it off, but changing "Whom I decided to love" to just "Whom I love" strengthens the emotion.

The transition from being scared to "always ready" seemed rather abrupt. If you could work in a few lines that describe the change from being afraid to tell the truth to not being afraid to defend yourself, I think the whole thing will come together nicely.

I can't imagine what it would be like to have to hide my feelings for someone I love. I believe everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of lifestyle, values, opinions, and whatever else.