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One evening I was walking home,
nice dress and heels stomping pavement
of the moonlit streets in my home city.
I've got something you'd love to grab onto, babe.
Catcall. It's not a compliment. It's demeaning.
He says *****, but all I seem to hear is
strong. daring. opinionated. outspoken.
Because that's what he's saying
when I stand up for myself.
when I act outside the roles of a "good" woman.
What he hope, with a five letter word,
is that I'll shut up, sit down, be seen and not heard.
because that's what being a woman is:
suppressed.
So, thank you sir, because all you've really done
is given me a reason to fight harder
a purpose to speak louder
and a way to stand taller.



"I've got something you'd love to grab onto, babe."

"What a shame... I forgot my tweezers."
This may not have happened to me personally, but it's happening to too many strong women today. Raising awareness is one step closer to stopping misogynist *******.
As I've said before, and I'll say it once more,
My heart was born in the ground,
Raised by the sea,
And housed in the trees,
And that's why I love them so.

In separation,
My soul was lifted on wind,
Traveled by light,
And slept in the clouds,
And that's why I love them so.

For my heart and soul are one,
One that has yet to meet me.
One that carries nature on his shoulders.
And that's why I love him so.

He and I are separated still,
Distanced by time,
Lost in the woods,
And brought closer by opposite currents.

We are carried by will
Followed by fate,
Inspired by others
And freed by blue skies.

And that's why I love them so.
I wear my strength as a badge of honor on my chest
Shining it with spit, because that's what tough guys do
I stand tall and march with confidence,
Staring down my enemies,
Grinning inwardly when they shy away

And then there are those that sneer at me,
Try to pluck the badge from my chest
Because I am not worthy of it,
Not capable of strength
Since I do not really stand tall, only average,
Since I am a woman, and we should be modest
We should leave it to the men.

So I wear this badge of honor,
Always carrying something to prove
Longing for respect from ones who should be my equals -
They don't realize that the extra weight
Will only make me stronger.
There is no definitive moment,
No epiphany or revelation
When a child makes the leap to adulthood -
When a child becomes accustomed to death.
Thoughts of fear and mourning vaporize
Replaced by acceptance of "the way things are"
When it is easier to break the neck
Of a dove with a broken wing
Than it is to hold it close in comfort
And wish for it to fly.
On the day you were born,
Two Candles were it.
They were two very different towers:
One just a lump of discolored, black, wax,
The other a solid Construction of white.

Now it's your first day of school,
Two Candles burn.
They are still very different towers:
One a hill of black wax,
The other a Mountain of white.

High school rolls along,
Two Candles blaze on.
They are shifting, changing shapes:
One is a small house of blacks and brown,
The other is a Mansion of white wax.

Your wedding day has arrived,
Two Candles shine.
They are nearly the same hight:
One is a dandelion of black,
The other is a Sunflower of white.

The day has come to light new candles:
Two Candles for a new life.
They are with no similarity:
A puddle of black,
A Waterfall of white.

You watch their candles change:
Two Candles for your child.
They alter:
Growing black
Shrinking white.

And as you watch theirs, you loose track of your own.
Two Candles dying.
A Tower of black,
A mound of white.

You're on your death bed.
Two Candles flicker
Black grows strong with a red flame,
white shrinks with a small blue fire.

They lower you into Earth.
One Candle rages on.
Black - strong and tall as ever.
white is no longer.

They place your Candle
With the billions of others.
You name engraved in silver.
That's what you will be known for: a tower of black wax.
To have that terrible urge
That horrible, grotesque thing
That feeling we wish to purge,
But we do not push, we cling.

It's that wonderful squeeze
Of his hands in yours
That tiny viral disease
We hear of in legends and lores.

Whispers of little white lies
We tell ourselves at night
One half loves, one denies
Warm in joy, cold in fright.

His wicked love devours
All your morals, all your cares
His crooked smile empowers
Warmth like poison, it ensnares.

Here, it whips you from clear eyes
And it blinds you of the truth
All decisions, it decides
Made of confidence, of uncouth.

You fall victim, you fall ill
Endless falling here and there.
Still you tumble down that hill,
You are taken, *love beware!
Where do you take a story?
To the deep and dusty dungeons filled with rubble ridden cages?
Or to the telescope of fame that starts with talent, strength and stages?

Do you have a happy ending where the girl and boy get married?
Or do they drown into the sea where they're taken, swept and carried?

Is their world a crystal cave of wonders; stone and solitude?
Or do they fall upon the rocks, too sharp, too strong, too crude?

Are their masters death and dark and depression, silent and abused?
Or are they dreamy- light and creamy- hazy or confused?

Do they take the path less traveled, sure that they are wise?
Or is their confidence a plague that's hiding in disguise?

Does she run across a meadow with the daisies in her wake?
Or does she swig the pills down fast for a childhood mistake?

Will he make the deal of the devil
In a race for gold and soul?
Or does he spend his life in hell for sin and shovel coal?

Is she strange, and strong, and special,
Is he big and brave?
Is anger, lust, and vengeance,
The only thing they crave?

Where do you take a story?
Where does it meet its end?
Is it written in a poem?
Or pretend that it's your friend?

*To be continued...
Bring the country side to me
Fill every wish, every plea.
Curl me up and take me in.
Draw trails of circles on my skin.
Drive around the ghost town square
Turn up the music,  take my dare
Kiss me in our tree house high
And look at leaves of green float by.
Sit me down and strum a song
We'll sing and dance,  all night long.
Love me always, treat me fine
Lace your fingers tight with mine.
Bring me home and lay me down
We'll live forever in this town.
I can never do just in your eyes.
I'm never smart enough
I'm never pretty enough.
I'm never quick enough.
I'm never kind enough.
I'm never good enough.
I'm not dependent.
I'm too questioning.
I'm not your perfect child.
But that won't stop you.
It won't stop you from making me a mold
And forcing me inside.
It's too big of a mold
Like an oversized sweater
Or like trying to wear your fathers coat.
I'm an ant and your asking me to fill a mountain.
It's not enough to just love me as I am.
No.
I'm never enough.
I'll live and die with your great expectation
Hanging over my head
Out of reach.
All because I'm not good enough for you.
That look.
That eye piercing, judgmental, closed expression that leaves you closed out.
She’s already made up her mind. She’s done speaking even before words
were spoken. She’s done. It doesn't matter what you say now, no matter
the white in your words. She’s constructed a story, in that rock thick
head, it’s become a truth. And even if the two of you were to find
some kind of agreement, she will always express doubt. She will
always think you're telling a lie. She'll walk away, ready to tell
the story she’s constructed and place words in your mouth.
And you’ll cry, in the room right above her. You’ll cry in
frustration, and anger, as a distasteful flavor fills your
mouth – the taste of false quotation and fabricated
words. The part that’s going to **** you inside is
the fact that you're going to go back downstairs
and act like nothing ever happened in that room
right above her. If she can’t hear you when you’re
right in front of her, there’s no way she’d hear the sound
of dozens of tears as they roll down your cheek and crash onto
the hardwood floor. A stain that will remain for only a few moments,
then it'll dry out, dead. And you'll put on a façade and agree with her lies
because you never wanted any trouble. You never wanted to see her mad or
disappointed. You'll just agree because you convinced yourself it’s the right thing
to do. Well everytime you lie to yourself, it adds a pebble to your back. You’ll
become a slave to these lies and carry them everywhere. And with each one
you’ll feel more and more alone until you're about to snap. You’ll go to her
for comfort and she'll tell you everything is okay and that this is just
teenage angst. Another lie, placed into your mouth as you agree.
Another pebble. Another back break. Another tear.
But who’s counting? You are. Who cares?
You do. And, in the end,
who’s alone?
You are.
I try not to rant in my poems, but I feel like this just had to be said.
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