She speaks cannon *****
and good morning blues.
She speaks sweet lilies
and rosebuds in June.

She speaks soft
as little light beams.
She speaks rainbows
over tall evergreens.

She speaks sonnets
and low melodies.
She speaks quietly—
freedom over me.

It was always the words I said.
It was never the way I said them—

never the way I screamed,
never the way I whispered,
never the way I spoke with eloquence,
sweetness, kindness, or grace.

It was never the way I spoke with wisdom,
or the way I spoke with knowledge.
Never the way I spoke as a woman,
or the way I spoke as a friend.

It was never the way I spoke
with tears in my eyes,
or with a clenched fist.

It was always the words I said—
the words you didn’t want to hear,
the words you refused to hear,
the words you refused to listen to.

Words that would have made you care,
that would have forced you to act,
that would have demanded you
to sacrifice something.

It was never how I said them
that turned you away from me.

It was always the words themselves—
that you refused to believe.

Let’s go back before it starts,  
Before the war, the bombs, the shattered hearts.  

Before the time when peace was bright,  
Palestine stood in golden light.  
Then strangers came, seeking space,  
And Palestinians gave with grace.  

All was well—till greed crept in,  
A slow betrayal, a growing sin.  
One by one, they claimed the land,  
Till war was forced by their own hand.  

Have you ever thanked the ones  
Who sheltered you beneath their sun?  
But kindness was not what you sought,  
Only power—only "mine" was taught.  

You took their homes, you took their lives,  
Yet still, their prayers rise and rise.  
You paint the land in black and red,  
But judgment waits for what lies ahead.  

They hold a place in paradise,  
While fire awaits your sacrifice.  
You chase the world that fades so fast,  
While they seek peace that ever lasts.  

We pray to God to grant their plea,  
For justice, truth, and dignity.  
Go ahead—do as you will,  
But history speaks, and time stands still.

It speaks to me
hold your breath
feel my skin
underneath.
It speaks to me
hold your neck
feel my sweat
underneath.

If words won't come, just write them down,
Don't bury them deep inside,
Don't swallow your thoughts whole,
Let them spill like coffee beans,
When the bitter taste burns your tongue,
And your throat feels like a cage.

Catch the rock stuck in your throat,
Like tangled yarn caught tight,
Pull it out from within,
Word by word,  thread by thread.

Let it flow,
Refuse to choke.

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

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