For Our Daughters

Let them call us bitches, banshees

or even feminists!

Speak out!

Scream out!

or our daughters lose out 

Teach them

that their bodies are beautiful

as they are

They don’t need to be cut on, pumped up, or sucked out

Teach them

that they can say “no”

to anyone who tries to hurt them

lie to them

guilt them

into acquiescence

Teach them

about the people

who want to steal

their rights to their own bodies

and to keep fighting for what is theirs

Teach them

never to be complacent

or they will lose

what they thought couldn’t be lost

Teach them

not to hide their intelligence

even though it makes some men uncomfortable

It’s not their job

to make everyone feel comfortable

Teach them 

to stand up for powerless

to protect each other

to accept those who are different
to love whomever they want

but to love themselves first

Teach them

to keep speaking their truth

even if people say they are wrong

until they are heard

Teach them

to HOWL.

submitted for Imaginary Garden With Real Toads, A Birthday in June - Get Ready to Howl 

in honor of Allenn Ginsberg's birthday 6/3/1926

Far From This Tree

source

1977

Parkland Junior High

You were older and tougher

and to this day I don't have a clue why

you targeted me

You said it was because I had threatened

your friend's little sister

which was untrue and ridiculous

Maybe you believed it

or believed it enough

to justify

The taunts I could deal with

but the threats brought me low

with shame and fear

Usually vague

"I'm gonna get you"

but sometimes mind racingly specific

"I'm gonna tear your earrings outta your earlobes"

Of course, I stopped wearing earrings

Changed my route from school

Even faked illness to stay home 

and away from you

Friends were no help

They were scared too

even the boys

No adults knew

I hated you but

I hated myself more

for being afraid of you

for retreating

for writing poems

instead of standing up to you

Fast forward 20-odd years

another middle school

Bus ride

The cool clique of girls throwing paper

in my daughter's hair

Although I've taught her to use her words

she turns around

punches one of them

hard

 I smile with pride.

submitted for Poetry Jam, Bully

What If?

"The best thing a parent can do for a child is love them and take them for who they are." Maurice Sendak

(Mr. Sendak lived with his partner for 50 years but was never able to tell his own parents that he was gay.)
 

What if I can't fall asleep

from the monster under my bed?

What if I miss dinner?

Will I starve until I'm dead?

What if I ran away from home?

Would you look for me?

What if I said I hated you?

Would you hate me back times 3?

What if sometimes I don't want

to have a baby brother?

What if I still suck my thumb

or wet my new bed cover?

What if I'm still scared of thunder

or afraid of the dark?

What if you love my sister more

and leave me at the park?

What if I do bad at school

and I'm really not that smart?

What if I think about you dying

or imagine us apart?

What if I make a bad mistake

and can't ever make it right?

What if I'm not good at sports?

do you think you might
Love me if I say I'm gay
still love me If I dared?
'cause I don't want to lose you
and I'm really, really scared.

submitted for dVerse Poetics, Sendak & the Wild Things, at dVerse Poets Pub

Bedroom Wars

image source

Chaos all around
Nothing is where it should be
Trash and dust compete for space

Perfectly cozy
All my stuff within my reach
My room-my peaceful kingdom

submitted for Poetic Bloomings, In Form Poet: Sedoka

Balloons

 *This one is in honor of all the kids at Camp Phoenix, the hospice camp where I volunteered this week. They've all had someone close to them recently die.

image source

Balloons aloft are lifted to the sky

Up to the clouds above they rise to meet

those who've passed from this life on to die

and left us here bereft and incomplete

The wind will get them where they need to go

with messages and wishes we have sent

to those we'll always love with hope they'll know

just how much they're missed and what they meant

From sun, from sadness tears are in our eyes

We watch as our balloons sail higher still

Vanishing, we whisper our goodbyes

Like bright hued birds they fly away; yet still

Our gazes linger after they have gone

knowing we will soon have to move on.

submitted for Poetry Jam, Elegies