Rosievelt Red

Rosievelt The Great Minimizer

That's the nickname they gave me on the other side

Yes, the other side, the dead who call

Ancestral voicemails, I heed them all

This name given, recently too

The running gag because I am always

Talking

Working

Fighting

Living through

Generous amounts of consistent sorrow and pain

But it doesn't look like that to you

Dissociate from it, there is still more I need to do

No excuse it’s my integrity

I don’t change who I am to fit the world’s mirror

What I carry, I will carry as me

Whether I shrink it or shoulder it whole

The soles of my feet and hues of my soul know the way

I understand the harm that I face

I am going to keep calm carry on anyway

This Rosievelt will continue to read

The truths they keep trying to steal from me

From Us

From We

So yeah, Rosievelt the Great Minimizer

I’ll take it

To the pain, my quiet surrender

Spits in the face of "oh yeah let's end her!"

My spirit’s a true survivor

The fight’s my true advisor

The people need an honest voice

So this is my choice

I will be an actual expression

Of a voice without suppression

My voice is what I fight for

My speech they will not control anymore

Everybody else gets plenty of air time

But notice how the danger is the voice that is mine

If I don't walk the walk, I don't deserve to talk

For the vision I see is true

If there is hope for me

Then there is hope for you

There is hope for us

In me we can trust

I make the unbearable look mundane

I turn devastation into a shrug

a laugh, a passing comment

Oh fuck I'm in seriously excruciating pain

I refuse treatment, I keep going, remain

Because it's just going to get in my way

No medication, no numbing it either

Each second a storm, each breath a strain

Pain receptors in my body, the signal receiver

But my mind is my body's deceiver

But it’s not just for their comfort

There’s still more I need to do

This weight cannot pin me down

If I let the full truth spill out

It might swallow me whole

So I gather it, compress it

Recast it as something manageable

Not because it’s not real

But because I need it to be small enough

To leave my hands free

for building

for healing

for hope

Because that's just me

7 years old heard a man speak

Had a very deep impact on me

I need to be the change that I wish to see

You won't believe it but I agreed

Too young, too wise

Internalized this message

I took this very seriously

It is him I need to make proud of me

I was bleeding out

Still didn't shut my mouth

After being near death's door

Walked miles a day cuz they needed more

I don't expect anybody else to do what I do

I am the one who will put myself through

I will feel the pain

I will burn in the flames

You don’t expect that from them

It is me who takes the blame

I walk through fire

I carry the weight

Pushing through it all

I will not hesitate

I’ll feast on molten violence

As the rage burns I’ll stay defiant

Swallowing the fire

Is the only time I'll stay silent

The pain was searing, god awful, raw

Like every inch of me was ripped and sawed

It wasn’t just hurt, it was pure agony

A suffering that left no room to breathe

Every moment a battle just to survive

But I held on tight kept myself alive

I have suffered immensely, nothing less

Fought through it all and I do not second guess

The epitome of what the hell is that girl doing here

In places I shouldn’t be but I’m sincere

With humility I show up even when it’s unclear

I don’t belong yet I’m still near

Pushing through the pain

Even when it’s hard to sustain

Unstoppable in what I claim

Even when they’re unsure of my name

I stand where I’m not meant to thrive

Being humble is what keeps me alive

My looks are unassuming

But the fire in me is consuming

A quiet force, no need to shout

I’m the one they can’t figure out

I’ve got a vision I can’t deny

I will rush forward, don't bother asking why

Straight shot into harm

I am the alarm

My passion rages and has no calm

I make my pain a joke so I can laugh it off

To give myself no reason or excuse to stop

They thought I’d quit, but nah, I’m the storm

I’m the chaos no one can reform

I hide the hurt don’t let it show

Because rain is how the flowers grow

Storm’s coming but I’m already here

Throwing shade at the lightning

It didn't realize it's me it should fear

Don’t need pity, don’t need a hand

I’m the one who storms through, still taking a stand

I'll grab the thunder and hurl it at a wall

The storm rages, I stay in control

I lead the way because that’s my role

Flash of pain is the spark I use

To ignite the fire I will never lose

Before the thunder cracks

I bit the bolts, spit them all back

If lightning strikes

I’ll catch it, make it mine

Thunder’s loud

Yet it fears my roar

I’m built for what it takes

For us I truly want more

I'll take the hit

I’ll face the shame

I will fight the battle

I will feel the pain

No one will carry this load alone

Became the storm, watch how I explode

Through the dark I forged the way

Integrity is the key

Doesn't matter what anybody else has to say

The pain, relentless, never ceased to tear

A constant weight, heavy

But I will bear

No holidays, no relief, no break

Just constant waves

Putting my life at stake

The pain was searing yet here I stand

A warrior surviving by my own hand