I used to be afraid of you, br But not anymore, br Not for a long time now. br When you walked tall br And carried a big stick br You often used it to protect br Your children. br Now you carry a cane br And you swing words br Like a big stick br And you use it to hurt br Your children. br I've realized br Through my personal growth br And br Search for my identity, br That I was so very afraid of you br As a child. br That it was better to join you br Than to be against you. br By becoming your shadow, br I became the Dragonslayer. br But in that endeavor br I lost my most cherished possession... br Myself, br The essence of my beginning. br It's funny how br Now, br I still manage to keep my head br When what I really want to do br Is tear off yours. br It's funny how br Now, br After all these battles br That I can still love you so much. br Even after you pulled all of br Your weapons to hurt me. br You're lucky... br You managed to raise me br With qualities, br Tools I carry, br And articulate through my life br And use them not to slain you, br Or chain you, br But to understand you, br And forgive you. br Just as all my experiences, br All my sufferings, br All my joys, br Have taught me, br Molded me. br I can get beyond the flames br Of your mouth. br I may feel the heat, br But I do not, br And will not, br Get burned. br Isn't it funny how now br I can be a dragon. br I can spit the flames, br Snap my jaws, br After all... br I am my mother's child. br br But just as a flame can br Cause a wound, br A flame can heal br a wound as well. br br I am all the better for it.