Awake. And Rising.
An ode
To all the women
And girls
Experiencing
Great violence of war
In their lands
In their homes
At work
On the streets
And many a time
At play
Be rest assured
We feel your pain
The Aftermath
The aftermath
Of a relay
In a pre-
Determined race
With a gilded baton
Seamlessly
Changing hands
A Past That Has Passed And Moved On
For years
I longed to "go home".
Stomping ground of
A happy childhood
Countless fun times
Important life lessons
Pampering, privilege
Family, friends
Acquaintances, foes…
On How To Be Celebrated
to find oneself
In the public eye
With little
To show for it
Is to invite
A scrutiny
That can scar
Scare and set
Noses wrinkling and
Tongues wagging.
On the Other Side of the Mountain…
Encourage someone today.
Look past
Present circumstances
And see the possibilities
In their near
Or distant future.