Unapologetically Unorthodox
By TT
Dedicated To: The Gender Non-Conformist
We are so bent
Upon being individualist
& beautiful in our own opinion
That your expectations of natural accordance
Does not exist…
& so persistently shall we insist
That who we are is who we are…
Regardless of your brackets.
Keep your common characteristics𑁋
We are bold & exotic𑁋
& in willing exodus from your prejudice;
We do fine without your confinements…
We are authentic & so gorgeous,
& no, we are not sorry for causing your contempt.
Call us blasphemous,
Because we are just different…
Orthodox does not run in our genetics.
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This is such a beautifully written poem. Wow. The flow, along with the words that you use, do a great job at getting your message across. The line “Keep your common characteristics — we are bold & exotic –” is so meaningful. Thank you for your words.
This is such a beautifully written poem. Wow. The flow, along with the words that you use, do a great job at getting your message across. The line “Keep your common characteristics — we are bold & exotic –” is so meaningful. Thank you for your words.
TT,
I love the non-conventional nature of the poem!! My favorite line (there were a few): “& no, we are not sorry for causing your contempt.”–that one gave me chills!
I also loved, “Regardless of your brackets.
Keep your common characteristics𑁋
We are bold & exotic𑁋
& in willing exodus from your prejudice;
We do fine without your confinements…”
All that to say, it’s a fire piece! I can feel the power of it.
People need your voice! Please keep writing.
I like how this poem celebrates being true to yourself and not fitting into other people’s boxes. It feels confident and proud, like it’s saying there’s beauty in being different. The lines about refusing “confinements” really stand out and make the message clear and strong.
This poem is full of pride and strength. It celebrates being different and true to yourself, even when society tries to force people into boxes. The voice is bold, confident, and unapologetic, showing that real beauty comes from authenticity and not following others’ rules.
I love how this poem is about being unapologetically yourself and embracing your differences. In a society where everyone is trying to copy one another, out of fear they will be rejected, reading this poem was very refreshing. Awesome work.
This is strong and inspiring. I love how it celebrates being true to yourself and not letting others put you in a box. It feels bold, proud, and beautiful.
Hello! I love your poem – especially being queer myself I loved reading this, this is defneitly something that is very important for queer people to read because this showcases that we do not need to conform to boxes society set in place for us. Good work!
This poem is a fearless declaration of self. It embraces the beauty of being different and refusing to apologize for not following the norm. It pushes back against society’s boxes and celebrates authenticity as something people should be proud of and empowered by.
I really like how this shows pride in being yourself. It’s strong and clear about not letting others put you in a box. The message of staying true and confident is really powerful.
This poem celebrates authenticity and resistance with confidence, rejecting conformity in favor of unapologetic self-expression. I liked the bold voice and how it turns difference into power. Great job.
This is such a beautiful poem, I love how it comments on genders being a societal construct. Everyone is so unique and should be free to express themselves.
This poem shows strength and defiance, embracing individuality with unapologetic pride. Its bold rhythm and imagery celebrate authenticity while rejecting the weight of conformity.
The structure really jumps out at me here. The “We are”, the lines that begin with &. Very affirmative, emphatic. Does a new kind of orthodoxy arise among the “We” invoked by the poem?
This is powerful and unapologetic—the strength in rejecting labels and celebrating authenticity really shines. I love how it turns defiance into beauty and confidence.
This is such a vibrant and unapologetic piece. It really captures the defiance and beauty of living outside imposed boxes. I like how it flips rejection into empowerment: what others call “blasphemous” becomes a badge of authenticity and pride. The flow between imagery of exile (“willing exodus”) and celebration (“authentic & so gorgeous”) makes it both resistant and radiant. It reads like a manifesto for selfhood beyond conformity.
This poem does such a good job of capturing what it feels like to push back against society’s expectations and just be authentic to who you are. The way it celebrates individuality and refuses to apologize for being different really resonates with me and I think a lot of people can relate to that struggle.
This poem truly embraces individuality with a wonderfully unapologetic tone. Using “we” frequently creates a sense of collective strength and stunning contrasts between beauty and contempt, authenticity and confinement, a tone that makes the message memorable. If you wanted to further refine this poem, I think the idea of “orthodox genetics” has a strong appeal. But overall, the poem’s strength lies in its clarity.
Prejudice has no place in our society. Please continue to be yourself fully.
What a beautiful medium of self expression. Unorthodoxy is the catalyst for change. Love this
I really liked this poem it’s powerful and full of confidence. Lines like “We are bold & exotic𑁋 & in willing exodus from your prejudice” really stood out to me because they show how strong and proud you are about being different. The poem flows nicely and has a rhythm that makes it feel like a spoken word performance. Overall, this poem shows a lot of pride, individuality, and courage. It’s creative and sends a clear message about staying true to yourself no matter what.
This poem justifies the idea of self expression. No matter how the world discriminates you, it should not discourage you. I love how this poems encourages you to be different and break free form the confinements of societal norms.
I love the confidence in this poem! The message about embracing individuality and going against society’s labels really stood out to me.
I was going to try to find my favorite lines/passages, but I realized it would literally be the whole poem. I work with teens who would celebrate your words, just as we hope our school celebrates them and, someday, our country celebrates everyone.
Ok … I found a line: We are authentic & so gorgeous. I don’t even know what to say except keep celebrating your fabulous authenticity.
Ok…I found another line: We are bold & exotic-/& in willing exile from your prejudice.
In the words of Pink Floyd (yep – I’m that old), “Shine on you crazy diamond”
This poem is awesome and fearless. It’s all about being yourself no matter what anyone else thinks and I love how it says, “We are authentic & so gorgeous, & no, we are not sorry for causing your contempt.” It’s a celebration of the beauty of difference and the strength in refusing to fit into anyone else’s brackets. Truly inspiring.
“Unapologetically Unorthodox” by TT is a powerful and fearless declaration of identity and self-acceptance. The poem’s bold language and confident rhythm celebrate individuality and defiance against societal norms. Each line radiates pride, strength, and authenticity, honoring those who refuse to be confined by expectation. Its message — that beauty and truth are found in difference — is both empowering and liberating. This piece stands as a proud anthem for self-expression and the courage to live unapologetically.
Hi TT,
I enjoyed your poem.
I liked that you slant rhymed ‘individualist’ and ‘exist’ as well as ‘exodus’ and ‘prejudice’. The tangibility of the words ‘bent’ and ‘brackets’ provided great imagery.
The last 3 lines really came off strong and stood out to me. The poem altogether had great flow to it.
Hello, I just want to say you are a wonderful writer. You have an amazing talent and I hope you continue writing. I read one of your other poem “Remember me in words” I absolutely loved it I think that was your best one yet. I know it may feel discouraging at times being in the position that you’re in but you’ve found something that other people in prison may never get a chance to have and that’s your writing. Please don’t ever stop you are seriously amazing. I hear you, I felt your words, pain, sadness, and sorrow. You seem to have a great support system going for you so keep it up.
This poem radiates pride and defiance — a declaration of identity that refuses conformity. The rhythm feels confident and unapologetic, celebrating individuality while rejecting societal boxes. Its tone is both elegant and rebellious, turning “difference” into power.
This poem is unapologetically proud and defiant, celebrating individuality and self-definition. Its voice is strong and self-assured, rejecting conformity and prejudice while affirming beauty in difference. The rhythm and phrasing give it a powerful spoken-word energy—confident, fearless, and liberating.
To be honest, this poem really spoke to me. I have autism and because of it, I have an unusual personality so I have experienced many of the negatives that come with it, even from my own family. So hearing this felt like a punch to the gut but that punch felt like it was filled with love. But also, yes, the poet speaks of a fortunate and unfortunate truth. Fortunately, we are really unique and beautiful but unfortunately, people will hate you for being exactly that. So while the poem might not rhyme or have any recognizable tells of it being a poem, it’s still worthwhile to read. Especially if you feel rejected by society simply for being yourself.
This is a lovely poem. You’ve really captured the feelings of many people. I love how with your poem you are showing that all people are different yet the same. We are all one. We are all free to be who we are. And that is something beautiful.
This captures self-acceptance in such a real way. It’s not about being rebellious just to rebel, but about being comfortable outside of other people’s boxes.
I really like this.
It feels like a clean rejection of other people’s boxes — like you’re choosing self-definition over their labels. The “keep your common characteristics” line is tough in the best way. It reads like confidence without apology — not asking to be understood, just standing as is.
Unapologetically Unorthodox is a bold and empowering statement piece. It embodies the spirit of resistance and self-love central to gender non-conformity. With a few rhythmic refinements and perhaps a touch more emotional texture, it could be even more unforgettable — especially in spoken form.
I appreciate your writing. This poem radiates defiance and self-celebration, promoting the rejection of conformity in favor of unapologetic authenticity. I think it’s a powerful declaration of individuality that turns difference into a source of beauty and strength.
What I love most is the final line: “Orthodox does not run in our genetics.” It reinforces that being different isn’t an accident—it’s a legacy, a strength, a birthright. Your poem becomes a celebration of identity that doesn’t apologize, doesn’t negotiate, and doesn’t seek permission.
This poem boldly celebrates self-definition and resistance to imposed norms. The speaker rejects “brackets” and “confinements,” asserting the beauty and power of being different. Its tone is unapologetic and self-assured, reclaiming identity from the gaze of prejudice. The repetition of “we are” becomes an anthem of collective pride, while phrases like “Orthodox does not run in our genetics” challenge the idea that authenticity must align with convention. Ultimately, the poem stands as a declaration of freedom — to exist, to resist, and to shine unapologetically.
Hi TT! I love this poem because it celebrates being true to yourself, even when others don’t understand. It shows strength in standing apart from labels and expectations. The message reminds us that confidence and authenticity are powerful, no matter what others think. Wonderful job on this poem, I enjoyed reading it!
There is a powerful message being conveyed through this poem. Well done, TT. You write beautifully and especially the parts where you express confidence about being yourself are something to admire. This is a good mindset to have.
Your poem expresses a strong and confident celebration of gender non-conformity. I appreciate how clearly you reject restrictive labels and expectations, emphasizing that authenticity doesn’t require anyone’s approval. The message that “who we are is who we are” comes through with real clarity, and the pride in difference feels powerful rather than defensive. The writing highlights individuality in a way that feels sincere and self-assured, making the poem’s message both memorable and impactful.
This poem celebrates defiance and self-definition, turning difference into something powerful and radiant. Its rhythm feels like a declaration of freedom, rejecting every box others try to place around identity.
This was very powerful and uplifting. I felt bolder and freer just reading your words. You captured an emotion I don’t have words for but feel sometimes, that I have a right to exist as me, and you made me feel it with your poem. Beautiful.
This poem is fierce, proud, and beautifully defiant, celebrating identity without apology. Its bold language powerfully rejects conformity and honors the freedom of simply being oneself.
This poem has such a confident, defiant energy — it’s basically a love letter to individuality. I like how it pushes back against being boxed in, almost treating “common characteristics” as something boring people cling to. It feels like a celebration of being unapologetically different, even if that difference makes others uncomfortable.
I love how this poem celebrates identity without apology. It feels fierce and confident, rejecting labels and expectations with so much pride. The language is bold and beautiful—exactly in the spirit of the people it honors.
This poem radiates strength and pride, celebrating individuality with a bold and unapologetic voice. The language pushes back against conformity and prejudice, making the message both empowering and emotionally resonant. Its confident tone invites readers to embrace authenticity and challenges them to rethink the boundaries they place on others
This poem hits me as a strong stand for individuality. It’s about refusing to be boxed in by other people’s expectations and celebrating difference without apology. I see it as a voice that’s bold, exotic, and proud of being authentic and even if that makes others uncomfortable. The lines push back against prejudice and conformity, but they also shine with confidence and self‑love. To me, it reads like an anthem for anyone who’s tired of being told to fit in, and instead chooses to embrace who they are, unapologetically.”
I love the turn of phrase ‘in willing Exodus from your prejudice’ – so much of being gender nonconforming does feel like a journey to search of a new homeland. The pride and the hope in this poem bring me a lot of joy.