Don’t tell me to stand tall

Be quiet

Show no pain.

Don’t tell me to lift my head

shut my mouth

And control my emotions

In moments of agony and heartache.

Don’t tell me to swallow my hurt

when I am struggling and suffering.

My emotions are me.

They are strong and powerful but

They make me who I am.

My emotions are beautiful and powerful

Reflections of my soul

Whose flames lick through my skin.

So don’t tell me to be a good girl

And stand tall.

Accept treatment

That no one else would.

Don’t tell me to hold my tongue

And silence another voice.

Don’t tell me to embrace

The chains that weigh down

The legs of women who try

To step forward.

Don’t tell me to be silent

Just because you think

Silence is golden.

Hero

I dreamed of a hero

to rescue me from my pain

but there was none

only the sound of

stiletto heels on concrete

as I walked over you.

Force

A beautiful disaster and

a perfect storm

ready to spill hot lava

at any moment

Simmering waterfall ready

to furiously flow

I am unexpected

you will never see me coming

I am a force of nature

and you’ll never want to let go