When you’re feeling strong and wise
And all your life feels blessed
That’s the time to act with power
And really do your best

But when you’re feeling down and out
And to your limit pressed
That’s the time for inner strength
To rise and share your best

At times you feel despondent
A bit unsure and stressed
But you can still express your will
And always act your best

Your best may look quite different
On some days - than the rest
But still you have within your reach
To ever give your best

Oh sweet little girl
Wont you open your eyes
Wont you wake up,
Rise and Shine.

Oh sweet little girl
Wont you watch your tongue
don't be so vocal or else you'll be shunned.

Oh sweet little girl
Hold your head high
Have a straight back
With shoulders wide.

Oh sweet little girl
Don't play in the mud
Your shoes will be ruined,
Don't mess with the bugs.

Oh sweet little girl
You study so hard
Your effort is noted
But your grades are subpar.

Oh sweet little girl
Don't travel alone
There's people at night
Who want to take you home.

Oh sweet little girl
How you've grown
You're a women now
With a mind of your own.

Oh little women
How your drive, drives you.
How you reach for the stars
Even with lips turning blue.

Oh little women
That's not what we said
Don't speak your mind
You're bringing up dread.

Oh little women
Leave that feather on the ground
Leave that bug on the bush.
There's nothing to be found.

Oh young women
Your voice is to loud
The chaos you're causing
is shaking the ground.

Oh young women
You're choices are bold
They're for to strong.
Listen to what you've been told.

Ma'am
We've asked you to stop
We've told you again and again.
You seem to not listen
Your will wont give in.

Your voice is to loud
Your hair isn't right
You are far to willing to pick a fight.
You play with nature
You say as you please
You're breaking the parameters
of what we believe.

Ma'am
It's time to settle down
It's time to fit in
Stop all this ruckus
And follow the rules you've been given.

"These rules have been botched
The've been slashed through with red X.

The women are rising,
And trust me you're next.
We are coming up from the rubble,
From the ash and the dirt,
We come with a vengeance,
Someones bound to get hurt.

We've suffered and begged,
For your ears to open,
Yet you brush away our please
Refusing diplomacy.

So we come with our swords,
Our flames rising high
We come with our voices
Screaming out towards the sky."
-ALC Dec 11, 2019

My skin gets thicker every time the world strikes me with a backhand blow.

My bones strengthen every time someone I love disappears without warning.

My heart beats more insistently at every attempt someone makes to tear it out.

My soul grows deeper with every ounce of pain that cycles through my being.

Every time the world tries to crush me to its core, I generate resilience. My mind becomes wiser. It takes a certain amount of pain to make a person better. For, in order to rise, you must first be knocked to the ground.

As the sun went down
The rays by her solitary window,
A tear did too
Down her cheeks,
Her body felt numb,
The heart made no sound;
The castle of her hopes
Burned to the ground.
Consumed by a void
Engulfing her soul,
The burnt down heart
Let out the only glow,
Gathering the ashes
Of the long lost heart,
She mourned her soul
Now torn apart
The reason, she claims
Was a trust misplaced
With all her woes and shattered dreams
The tearstained pearl was what she reaped

She looked out the window
Now ready to fight,
She'll build a new castle
From the ashes inside.
The eyes that glistened
Now burnt fierce,
She would go down and fight
Against all her fears,
Her heart was broken,
But not her will
The pain was intense
Enough to ****
Yet her oath, was to heal
Lighting the world
With her fiery glow, tamed,
As soft as a mother's embrace
She'd tame her demons,
The healing would take time,
The days will be better
And the sun again will shine.