The Lost Pink Sweater

I was bullied by classmates and even teachers for being gay, until I loathed myself. The pink sweater is a metaphor for my actual self vs. the plaid shirt was what they wanted me to wear.

 

 

I hated the color pink�"   
The pink sweater I once bought.
I stopped wearing it,
Though it always suited me.
They said it looked wrong on me,
So I folded it away,
Buried it deep,
And pretended it wasn’t mine.

Back then, life lost its hues.
When I hid my pink sweater,
Swallowed my tears,
And laughed along with those
Who mocked anything soft,
Anything pink.

I clung to the plaid shirt you gave me,
Though it scratched my skin
And squeezed my chest.
I told myself I liked it
Because they liked it on me.
But it was never really mine.

I remember the day I saw it�"
How they didn’t like the plaid on me,
But on themselves.
It was their armor,
Their rules stitched into fabric,
And they forced it onto me.

That day, I searched my closet,
The one I had outgrown,
For my pink sweater.
The one they taught me to hate.
The one I once loved.
But it didn’t fit anymore.
They had stolen it from me�"
The color of my childhood.

The pink sweater still sits there,
Folded under my bed.
The plaid shirt is long gone.
Now, my closet is full of colors I’ve chosen,
Each one stitched with my truth.

This time, I won’t cave.
I won’t wear their plaid,
Or carry their lies.
They took my childhood once,
But my growth,
My pride�"
That’s mine forever.

 

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

You are a very good writer.
"This time, I won’t cave.
I won’t wear their plaid,
Or carry their lies.
They took my childhood once,"
The above lines were my favorite. Could stand alone. It is odd how simple things can create memories and emotions. Thank you sailesh for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[Wanzala Meshack]

Dear Sailesh,

Your poem "The Lost Pink Sweater" is a poignant and beautifully written piece that resonates deeply. The way you have used the pink sweater as a metaphor for authenticity is both powerful and touching. Your journey from self-loathing to self-acceptance is inspiring, and it’s wonderfully expressed in your heartfelt words. Thank you for sharing such a personal and moving story. Keep writing and inspiring others with your courage and creativity.

Warm regards,

[LoudMind]

Nicely written. I like it.

[Dylan Macadham]

a beautifully written story-poem, a tale of evolving independence. Loved it!