Remember the little girl who said she’s too dark?

Not seeing anyone on TV like her unless she was skinner and lighter?

Rising beyond your disposition to only be told to stay quiet or be “angry” or “aggressive”, but still a woman

All while holding in the pain that came with the parts that society wants to claim for themselves:

Your hair, your lips, your thighs, my pride, but never your melanin.

What shines in the sunlight and glistens in the stars

Destined for you by your mothers mothers.

Well look now little girl:

Since they’ll pay to look like us: fake tan, asses and lips

The world is changing, backwards and forwards

Just remember who you are…..so.much.more

--- I’m a Black Woman

Song reference: Black Woman - Danielle Brooks

I tread lightly, but give my all to conform to your embrace:

thrashed to the winds, no regards for the merciless tides.

asking myself in silence: is this surplus of pain worth your miniscule calm waters?

my feet are blistered and scarred

my hands wrinkled and worn

my eyes red and weary

my heart….just tired

yet I cling to your crashes and sways, no regard for the obstacles and dangers

as with that pain and sorrow was momentary peace and serenity

now, waking on the barren shores, my body is healing

my heart, slowly, and in time, will.

yet, I often long for your embrace, throbbing scars as the final reminiscence

once in my oasis, now drawn,

thrusted almost,

into unsteady ground

though not where, I know who’s here:

with skin of teakwood and ash

lips larger than life

but with those scars, I knew it was you:

you that gave me false love

you that broke me in two

you that stole my innocence without a second thought

for the first time, I’m seeing you in

a state of innocence, your life

hanging in the balance of life and death

I stalk the drapes of your bedroom,

hushed as a starved rat, seizing every inch

of what can end all of you in an instant

but without a second thought,

I let you live, causing a distraction

leading the reaper to another target

why you ask? not for anyone but you

I wanted you to feel what I felt:

out of control, fearful, innocent

and never have that back

not just feel it, but live it, like I did

your words muted

your scents faint

and though illusive, your touch brings ecstasy

every touch like summer shivers

every kiss pierces with wintery blaze

every morsel of eloquent phrases

far from sin

far from immoral

far from unwanted

…embrace me always

Females. Ladies. Girls. Women.

Living different Lives

Believing different Faiths

Having different Bodies and Colors

All with Commonality; Beauty.

Beauty in your Own Decisions

Beauty in your Own Love

Beauty in your Own Skin

Believe. Learn. Live. And Love It.

#women#interntaionalwomensday#empowerwomen

neither old or young

weak or strong

can escape from

life’s only certainty

I, young,

not yet so old

lie here

savoring life’s last breaths

I simmer

on life,

on love,

on how it’s bested me,

how I’ve lied,

been lied to times over,

been loved,

and been left in the cold,

how I’ve tried

my best to live

but failed to

barely exist

now, I slowly

cease to exist

losing grip on life’s

single tattered string

mother time approaches

with a smile

sealing my fate with

her gentle touch

to those I’ve loved and lost:

"Goodbye,

you’re better off

without me".

Where am I?

Countries, continents and universes from what I know

Thoughts of you wanders aimlessly, trotting, racing through my mind,

Making it hard to see if you can have them anymore

A bucket of ashes, that’s what you’ve become

The leftovers of the man that you were:

Protector, brother, friend, my father.

I’m anxious..I’m scared...I miss you

We’re two hours north from our sweaty cheap hostel

Through residential streets and marine bases and camps

Down a small set of stairs we find it,

An abandoned cove, private, where no one will see

Ashes in the sea, that is where we left you

Where you wanted to be, where you wanted to stay

I’m anxious...I’m scared...this is goodbye.

--- Cove's Edge

i’m alone in a busy coffee shop;

words are coming

in unsteady waves,

scraping in journal entries

to keep me sane,

keeping face to not show

my inner fears,

but am I lonely?

it’s hard to tell.

-----headspace

yesterday we were over; I felt everything.

it was never your intention, but you hurt me beyond my core.

your touch, what I craved in utter silence,

your voice, what subdued my inner termoil.

that night, there was a moment of violent screams and tears;

the only control I knew I had to keep my feelings at bay.

now, I’m alone; I can’t feel anything.

----- why did you leave me?

Boredom sets in.

1st semester college finals

Love of Travel, Musicals and Les Miserables;

That’s how I met her. My Best Friend.

Stringy blonde hair

Pale blue eyes

Small frame

Somehow we clicked:

We shared twin beds,

bikinis in the summer,

and joys and sorrows year round;

Now, who’s to blame?

You: too drunk

and violent to tell me you

might be carrying his

baby?

Me: so weighted by

anxiety watching you hit

him that I left to save

myself?

That’s how I lost her. my friend.

Now it’s different:

No drunk Skype calls screaming

about dropping charges against your rapist?

No more voicemails shouting,

“Fuck you, I can handle myself.”

No more calls from your parents

wanting me to get you out of the psych ward.

No. More.

Now, I’m Free.

Thank you, Friend.