We are only people
Axel Hagström is one of the students at “Skrivande 20” (“Creative Writing Class 20”), a small group of students in year two on the upper secondary school writing programme at Film & Musikgymnasiet (The Film and Music Gymnasium) in Norrköping. He has written a poem inspired by the content of Pen/Opp's hate speech issue.
Axel Högström wished that there were more texts that shed light on the vulnerability of LGBTQ people. His poem "We are only human" is an important contribution.
The right hand keeps us down
They govern in anger
like pawns on a political playing field
We are not animals
We are only people
neither sick nor sinful
Wake up world!
Open your eyes
Listen carefully
We are not societal issues
like the environment or the economy
We are ordinary human beings
fighting fire and flames
The left hand promises
—they parade alongside us—
full freedom. When will we see it?
Stop promising things you cannot keep
Let us live in peace
Don’t try to throw us away like so much garbage
We are here to stay
You will not be rid of us
