ladybookmad

we

finally refused

to be seen as only

bodies crafted

for the men’s

use&consumption,

so we set the

clouds ablaze

to sway them,

to show them

how wonderfully

we could coexist,

but

they chose to

take it as a threat

& they

have never

fully forgiven us

for claiming

the portion of the sky

that was always rightfully ours.

abuse is nothing to romanticize.

abuse is nothing to romanticize.

should keep

floral pepper spray

& pocketknives

tucked

neatly into

our purses

at all times

(because

apparently

even the act

of trying not

to be raped

should look

lovely

& feminine),

more than

okay

to

wake up

with the

overwhelming urge

to cover up

all the mirrors.

self-love

is not

an instant

nor an

overnight

evolution,

but

at least try

to open up

the windows

to let the breeze in

every once in awhile

womanhood

doesn’t

have to be

this twisted

competition.

let us

cultivate

womanhood

until it grows

into sisterhood.

we’ll sprinkle

lavender seeds

into our

old wounds

until we’re finally

h e a l e d

the very

idea

of

standing up

for myself

frightens you

so

damn much

then

i guess

the power

you thought

you held

over me

wasn’t that

impressive

in the

first place.

woman’s

wrath

is nothing

if not immortal.

when you

take it upon

yourself

to politicize

human bodies

&

the

right to

keep breathing

without paying

a steep price

for it,

don’t

pretend

to be shocked

when we start

to take politics

personally.

i’m dousing

my fire.

i’m dropping

my sword.

i’m melting

my crown.

i’m destroying

my castle

& then i’m

hurling it

straight

into that

perilous

sea.

all

this time,

i thought

myself

a motherfucking

queen,

&

only now

am i

realizing

that it was

all make-believe.