I have ended wars single handedly,
Brought gods broken to their knees,
And dragged down the very lights
From the gods of Heaven.

But my greatest victory
Was always that I was the fire,
That sparked your brightest smiles.

The sun shines.

So bright it does.

The heat can't lie.

But so our hearts.



The brightness, so blinding

Almost caring,

Nurturing,

What a shame it is.



The light stops at the pillar of the sky.

I see nothing with the naked eye.

Nothing but gloom.

Vision obstructed.



How greedy—

So greedy the clouds get,

Leaving folks in darkness.

Just like moles, we become.



Just like the Sun,

The heart don't lie.

They share a certain shine,

But a façade buries it.



My smile has turned to a lie.

Echoing tunes of the dark.

And reveals light only in sparkles,

As grains through an hour glass.



Deep down I smile,

Unlike any other,

A contagious smile,

All 32 of them shine.



As the grains of sand drop,

The clouds will eventually clear ,

My mask will crumble,

And the sun shall express its bright through my smile.

As I watch the sunset,
I remember the past.
We were all together,
in the circle of best friends
laughing about all the funny moments,
even the not so funny ones.
Everything feels perfect,
cause' I know you guys will forever be by my side,
forever be my friends.
Because of you guys,
I'll forever have a smile on my face.

A small, reluctant smile forms on your lips;
small because there are no smiles without the guilt
that comes from being the only flower in a field of weeds.

They say speak your truth,
but only...
only if it doesn’t make others uncomfortable.
Can't smile it away.
They say speak up,
but only...
only if you aren’t too loud.
They say walk proudly and tall,
but only...
only if you don’t attract too much attention.
Can't smile it away.
Though I am tired...
Tired of listening to their empty advice.
You can change for so many people...
you no longer recognize yourself...
until there is nothing left of your true form.
Can't smile it away.
The truth of the prejudices that still exist,
the harmful biases,
the injustices which live in our world,
are not erased, simply...
simply because some choose to ignore them.
Can't smile it away.
The misogyny which exists in our world,
cannot be tucked under the rug,
it can’t be smiled away.
These sentiments aren't meant to bring joy,
these words are not fragile,
these words are not beautiful,
this is just me,
speaking about the truth,
and not feeling ashamed to speak it.
Can't smile it away.
There are still far too many places...
places where women must fear...
fear to walk down their own street,
ever watchful of the hands...
hands of those who feel...
feel their bodies are not their own,
because they are women,
because of their gender.
Can't smile it away.
There are still far too many who do not realize,
that many generations of slavery and oppression,
have left their mark on current generations,
and that hate still lives.
Can’t smile it away.
There are still far too many prejudices which poison the minds,
of those who fear...
fear a religion foreign to their own,
and too many wars are still waged,
in the name of religion.
And when does it end?
You can’t smile it away.

-Rhia Clay

I don't think a single thing could bring me down from my high.
The rush of learning, I'm going to be seen!
Published
Known
Sure only a select few may even care,
But I do.
That's what matters to me.