[it all matters]

i seek a chain
made of silver
with three black orbs
and a bird facing the sky
to wrap around my chest
fall between my *******
clasp around my waist
and the back of my neck
to remind me
of my shape

all day
as i move
i am conscious
of a bead here
a tug there
and i am reminded
that i am a
woman
and
     i
           feel
power*    

i stand tall
       i feel sure
          i use my grace                      
and i wield my weapons                  

have you not seen
the plumage of
the birds of the sky?
colors
    textures            
and sounds
m e s m e r i z e

attract
or distract              
hide
         or reveal

have you not seen
the cuttlefish?
the intelligent
           mollusk
and  
       master of disguise
hiding in the sea?
beauty
and mystery
abound
oh    
that
i knew
     the ways    of
the cuttlefish        
what wonders
i would create*                        

female /human/
a fairly blank
canvas
unadorned in
color
but for eyes
hair  and
skin
no spectacular showing
     of plumage      
no mysterious                  
change in texture
                    or majestic wing    

some humans
are aware
of this
(seemingly)
                   overlooked
pomp and          
              circumstance
i want more bird                              
             i want more cuttlefish

so i seek a chain
made of silver
to remind me
of my shape
i seek paint of
many colors
to adorn my
feet and hands
i change the color of
my hair with
the wind
i line my eyes in black
i paint my lips
if i need warpaint
i shall have it
if i desire to blend in
then i shall
where can i shine?
where can i glow?
where can i
pattern          
myself  
like a leopard?

now
i am powerful
because
i am me
now i fit better into
nature because
i am of nature
i am as human as i can get

/i am all animals and all things/
roaring and silent
swift and slow
beautiful and plain
because i am human
i can choose it
because i am human
i create it
because i am human
i am claiming it
*and you are my witness