Every time you
tell your daughter
you yell at her
out of love
you teach her to confuse
anger with kindness
which seems like a good idea
till she grows up to
trust men who hurt her
cause they look so much
like you.

I sat with myself one day and asked, 'Who is in those prestigious literary circles? Do they represent me? Do they appreciate the topics I write about and the style in which I write? Do those gatekeepers let a demographic like mine through the door?' And the answer was no.

When things get better, there's a swing to the pendulum where things get worse for others.

Like the rainbow
after the rain
joy will reveal itself
after sorrow

never feel guilty for starting again

you look at me and cry
everything hurts

i hold you and whisper
but everything can heal