a home
is more than just walls

it requires a solid foundation
level ground
away from riverbanks
far from fault lines  
a safe place

once a strong foundation is laid
the walls will grow tall

walls build up quickly
one must tear them down
build doors
allow others in
homes aren't completely self reliant

next is the windows
punch those out
never lose sight of what's outside
if anything
just buy blinds

add additional protection
a roof

in a couple of years
repaint the walls
level the floors
patch the roof

without preservation
this home will crumble
with it
we

feminism fails
when it disregards
those of color

for we know that every dollar
a woman makes
a man makes more

we seem to disregard the bit
where a women of color
make even less
than their white counterparts

feminism needs to stop
excluding
disregarding
those impacted most
it's a hazard to progress

pull up a chair
scoot down the bench
it's time we serve up
intersectional feminism
for the table can hold more
there's plenty of progress to go around

my thoughts
get scrambled
picture
alphabet soup
poured in a blender
pulsed for three seconds

mixed
yet still letters

now pour that in a bowl
words
sounds
syllables

a jumbled mess
the only utterance
made out
the only thing that sticks
'goodbye'

on a typical day
I'm in touch with my body
completely self-aware
yet my period catches me off guard
sneaks up unannounced
stays for too long  
causes debilitating pain
destroys my clothing
and in turn my day

worst of all
it makes me question
if my body even belongs to me

'I love you'

rolls off your tongue

like an old piece of chewing gum

something you wish you could throw away

but once more

you choke it down and swallow

I'm at home when hiking
with rocks, roots, and mud
my knees bend
eyes scan
legs stretch
arms sway in equilibrium

I can climb mountains
my body is strong like the noble firs
for we sip from the same streams
withstand the same sun

blankets aren’t just blankets
far more than cloth and fluff

they provide a decent replication
of your arms
holding me

the warmth you provide
the protection you bring
the comfort that swallows me

but when you aren’t here
your arms too far
I have a blanket
that does an okay job

until you’re back
embracing me
you’ll find me cocooned up
waiting
in a daydream