I am the Maid
I am the Mother
I am the Crone
I am the Fourth

I am the roughness of the Earth beneath my feet and
I am the crashes of the waves on the rocky shore and
I am the rain splashing on your skin and
I am the wind that wipes away each season

My body breathes life as it creates and destroys simultaneously
The push and pull of life itself coursing its way through my body
The methods of the Moon guide my body as she morphs into her true form
Artemis claims me as hers

I am, but Woman
Standing still on the Earth that isn’t ready for me
Though I have been here billions of years
Man cannot fathom I am Woman.

I bumped by head when I got out of bed this morning-
and not for lack of coordination.

I was late to class but still made it there before the professor,
and I have more finals than I can count on both hands due next week.

The bills are piling up, and there's nothing I can do.

Off to lunch with friends, and then to work on a project.

I haven't seen a doctor in four years, and I can't afford to go.

I rearranged my dorm so I can find my clothes easier. Now they're in rainbow order!

I haven't bought new clothes in so long that they don't fit anymore.

We took a trip to get wine today-
but we broke down on the way back and now I have to call a tow truck. Yet another bill.

It's 3 am and I'm trying to finish this paper before it's due at 8 am- something about a curriculum? I don't remember anymore. I'm just putting words on paper.

I've been off my meds for months now because they cost more than I can afford. What can I afford? $0.00

My hallmates will not shut the **** up, and I need to study for this exam.
I can't afford to live off campus so I have to deal with it.

I'm 21, but most people still treat me as a child.

I can buy my own wine but I can't make my own decisions.

I can buy my own wine, but I can't afford to.

When you come into my classroom,

I Love YOU.
Exactly the way you are, just as you walked into my room.
I don't love you more when you please me, and I don't love you less when you mess up.

I don't love you any less for who you love, or how you love. I don't love you any less for the color of your skin, where you are from, or what language you speak.

I don't love you any less for your gender, or gender- identity.

If anything, I love you even more for being who YOU are; and not anything else.

curves and lines and wrinkles and scars and bumps and lumps and

This is my body.

curves and scares and

imperfections; my imperfections.

Mine.

balloons.
bulbous and shiny and colorful and full of laughter
children with bright eyes and high pitched laughs

let go of the string and the fun flies away.

you spent the days by the side and the nights in my bed
but you never looked at me

you spent the days by side but
you didn't turn your head.

you spent the nights in my bed but
couldn't look me in the eyes.

you spent the days by the side and the nights in my bed but
you couldn't pick me out of a crowd.

And when you left my bed for another;
you barely took a breath.

forever doesn't mean together.

forever means until I say the end.