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

The allusion we perform
So that people perceive us
The way they want

repetitive engaged
newer orders
where we come from
is where nothing returns
the service of birth
to not come home
on foreign soil
only to war
only for war was i thought of
this one will not win
this strategy of me
a world
they enjoy and toy with me you will
toil till death does its part with you
you tend to my munitions
i confer and advance
you engaged me
and again i gain ground
no fence?
know fence
no place
mine
handless land, crawling
time honored minute, non traditional
warfares itself upon the service
none shall attend

To scream into the void or let silence devour me whole?
To claw at the seams of this waking dream,
or accept that I was never awake?

To be the mad one or the blind one?
To whisper the truth no one wants to hear,
or let the lie cradle me to sleep?

They fear death like a stranger,
but I swear, I’ve known it before.
Soft. Familiar. Calling me home.

So is it better to speak or to die?
Or was I dead long before I asked?

Among the crowd, busy life,
I saw a soul, hustling around.
Not like people, always rife,
A lost boy, ought to be found.

I saw you pass by,
Pass though my whole.
I wished to talk, say "Hi!"
But I only saw you, behind the pole.

I saw you, but so did you
You opened your mouth, I passed by,
Like a puzzle, you left a clue,
Walked away just after, "I!..."

What were you about to say,
This haunts me still,
Maybe you wanted to make me your bae,
Oh, I'm climbing a steep hill.

Speak, though the world may not yet hear,
Your voice a melody, unique, clear.
In the symphony of life, each note dear,
The universe listens, always near.

Its been three months
her hairs long now
it cascades down her back
moving as she walks closer to me,
grows closer to me.
I wonder how she feels when she sees me,
how she feels when she sees me standing there waiting.
all i see is guilt, and on top of that shame.
shame how it ended the way it did,
guilt on the way i acted.
i don't know if i should speak,
and if i did,
if she would respond.