Fire, framed by black, black fear
Lament of the trauma years
Yet, hold hope, for truth rings clear
‘round the edges, light appears

Fire, framed by black, black fear
Lament of the trauma years
Yet, hold hope, for truth rings clear
‘round the edges, light appears
Before daybreak today
I heard their nervous flutter-breaths
The false adages
For, they knew — they always knew
Today I would abandon them
To save myself
Awakening
To fears, that wished I’d believe I was late
Or not good enough to show up in the first place
Back-talking
To Lies, that tried to infiltrate my wake-up thoughts
Would I recognize today was mine to do with as I pleased?
The gods allowed me sleep yester-eve’
The calendar delivered colors this morn’
Thus, my green eyes
Beheld true-blue skies
And animals came to instruct me
Before daybreak today
What historic shadows do we live with?
What bricked, mortared, and hole-riddled, but still beating heart will we keep saying suffices?
What love? What?
This battered banner
These stars
Ready now, to tell true stories
Able, finally
To let go
To grow
You, women and girls
Ever Sunrises, Sunsets
Metaphors galore
I’m no girl next door
I’m no saved Cinderella
I’m just God’s daughter