Photo of moon by Shane Peterson.
they say you should write the things you fear the most
write the things that make you choke
on your breath
your tears
each word
each syllable threatens to undo the years
of healing
you've so carefully stitched yourself back together
woven a blanket of parables
quotes from country hills
spoken with wisdom stored in wrinkles
from full lips
forced shut for too long
the silent screams of women who never took
their own advice
their voices only praised when echoing
false proof
of pleasure
feeding his ego
if only he knew how often she dreamt
of taking her own life
you've woven a blanket of scripture
from books so holy
they've never been written
soundless stories of strength
spoken through eye contact
between women who know what it means
to walk with water
don't you dare break her gaze
don't you dare break the chain
the stories must live on
young queen, you are golden
and these secrets may just be
the only spells that can guard
the honey between your thighs
the way they'll pay for your sighs
come to your altar and beg for forgiveness
at the chance of one more kiss
broken boys
trapped in men's bodies
trying to fill their emptiness with your holy water
searching for home in your womb
pouring their pain
into your open spaces
opening the mother wound
begging you to bless them
knocking at your temple
with their chakras closed
you are not a casket
for their unacknowledged sins
for the pain they won't admit
neither are you disposable
he'll move on to the next one
but the mirror doesn't lie
you are she
reflecting he
back to eyes that don't wish to see
do not break her gaze
learn your history
converse with the stars
sing over the bones
and pray your spirit back to vivacity
sacral chakra open
sunflowers on your navel
carnelian on your womb
beg your ancestors for forgiveness
for all the years neglected
three white candles and moon water
florida water too
set fire to this liquor
these tears are libations
oshun's child
may river mumma bless you
calendula in your bathwater
frankincense in your hair
walk naked into the ocean
watch your moon time flow
blood sacrifice
the holiest offering
yemoja hears your cries
if only this were enough
to make it all alright
don't you dare break her gaze
come mek wi chant down babylon
beating drums in ra's rays
singing songs of praise
to the divine feminine ways
this vessel is sacred
a portal to other worlds
the chaos of aditi
giving birth to galaxies in your sleep
womxn
they've been sleeping on you
afraid to get too deep
afraid of what they'll see
do they deserve these oceans?
can they hold the secrets you keep?