It’s a choice to be this kind
It’s a lifestyle to use my mind
It’s a habit to be tough
It’s an addiction to show love

The words are written on your face
You wish that I was out of sight
The marks you make are here to stay
But I can turn them into something nice 

Let the ink on my skin
Match the ink on the page
You can’t hear my story
If you walk away
See my colors so bright
And my lines so clean
You can be kind
Let go of the mean

It’s a shame hate used up my time
It’s a loss that I thought I was fine
It’s so sad I was in my own way
It still hurts, but I can still take the pain

The words are written on your face
You wish that I was out of sight
The marks you make are here to stay
But I can turn them into something nice 

Let the ink on my skin
Match the ink on the page
You can’t hear my story
If you walk away
See my colors so bright
And my lines so clean
You can be kind
Let go of the mean

It’s a choice
Let go of the mean

Words hurt. It is hard to forget what people said to you when they made you feel small. It is hard to hear the same hollow and tired tropes people use to justify their harmful actions. We can always take the things people throw at us, and those bad experiences that will stick with us, and turn them into something nice. People can leave marks on your mind and soul when they are unkind to you, but you can take those and make them into a  work of art that shows the world who you really are. If someone chooses to walk away from you before they can see the whole picture, that is on them. Turn lemons into lemonade. Create something great from your happy mistakes. And never give up on yourself. The things that make you can help other people when they are down.