i hang on every word you say
waiting for mere mention of my name

i am
a legislative agenda
a number in a system
a check to be balanced
a wrong to be righted
a bill to be passed
a shout to be stifled
a cry to be silenced
i am screaming with all my might
but my anger means nothing
for who
am i
in this country
but another woman

the gentle reminders of my fears
sing me to sleep
“what could go wrong?”
“will i wake?”
their ever-dreadful lullaby
lulling me to slumber
a grandfather clock
a stopwatch
tick tick ticking
til all fades away

it’s late,
and i have an early class tomorrow,
so i will worry
about the futility of my existence
in the morning
(if it arrrives).

your thorns that pricked me
hurt me the worst,
not venomous or caustic
but putting me in throes.
i saw the signs,
it serves me right,
but I was reaching
for a rose.

because I don’t broadcast
my favorite verse of the Bible
in my Instagram bio
it is rumored
i worship
The Devil

I might
pine
maple
elm
willow
for you
forever.