Two Poems by Anonymous

Hi. It's Me, HIV.

Hi, it's me. You know,
the HIV.

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
I'm deep inside and try to hide,
so it might seem you know
I'm getting sick and tired
of things people are saying about me.

You need to know the truth
so it won't seem I live in the air
and don't have a care.

You can get me through drugs
by sticking a needle in your vein,
just to put that nasty drug
is just a shame,
oh yeah it has to be changed by the way.

Don't share
cause I might be somewhere in there.
If you have a baby, get tested.
don't put the baby in pain
cause of your shame.

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. I'm HIV.
I affect so many who have no say.
Nothing's going to stand in my way.

If you give me the time and place
when you're not going to be safe,
I'll see you there
because remember I don't care.

They give you these meds
you don't like to take,
but to tell you the truth,
I hate them too.
So don't take them.
Make me happy.
Otherwise we'll be fighting.

Mommy

Mommy, can you see me?
You're hurting me.
You can't see me cause I'm not there.
You can't see me cause I'm in here.

I'm deep inside.
How could you do this to me?
How could you do this to yourself?

Don't you respect yourself, Mommy?
It's out there, you know that.
It's killing us so you do that.
You looked just fine, and you feel great.
That's not the only reason you didn't get a date.

You're acting funny. You're smelling too.
You're getting sick too fast.
That's why you didn't take the test.
That's not good, that's not fine.
You should have others in mind.

I'll be fine, that is true.
I just keep thinking bout you.
Well so that shouldn't be a problem.

OHHHH it is, just believe I'll be fine.
How do I know all of this, you say?
Well that's not the point I'm trying to make.
Let me ask you something, what if someone came up to you
and said you had HIV?
what would you say?
What would you do?
Would you think it's true?
Or never mind and let it go on through?

Because you see I'm in you.
I'm not born yet,
but I'm here to tell you
you have HIV.
Yes, it is a disease.
Wait, Mommy, don't think that.
Wait, Mommy, don't do that.
Don't you understand,
all I want to do
is to hold your hand,
walk down the street,
so brave and true,
because you see I have HIV too.