when I see mountains
my soul takes off her shoes,
and lets out a long sigh.
she is home.

what does that say about my soul?
wild
proud
big
sharp
beautiful

I was adrift
looking to everyone else
for a purpose
looking looking looking
for directions
to follow step by step.

but the ones I was looking to
were searching in me
for the same thing.

the loop was at risk
of going on forever
except a sadness
saved me.
it dragged me to the dark
lonely bottom
so that my only option
was to look
within.

I came back to myself
my purpose
was hidden deep down in my ribs all along.
other loud noises
distracted
me from what I had known.
I learned to
quiet the world
and listen to my own voice again
for the directions
I was lucky not to find
when I was drifting.

I look now
not for a
recipe to copy
but for a person
who can hear their own voice.

What is that spice in your voice?
It smells delicious
lightly sprinkled
onto every word you speak.
After a few sentences
my soul is nourished.
I think of another question
for dessert.

So ugly there is nothing to hide
Giving in to that hot mess
Leaves an opening for someone
To appreciate the ugly
That is so genuine it is beautiful

Each time
I try on a pair of pants
That don’t make it
Past my knees
Because of these
Thunder thighs
I think,
I’m so strong.
And buy a dress instead.

He says
his masculinity
requires him
to earn more
than his mate

Without forming
the words
he implies
the femininity
that will complete
him
must be less

Less
smart
strong
rich

Boy, no part of
my femininity
requires me
to be less
than
anything

You present a shiny balloon to the world
A happy, polite, proper finish
But I like
What you say
When the balloon floats away

I was running a race
Where the finish line
Was always
100 yards away.
Until I realized
The race was on a beach.
In paradise.
I dropped down where I was
And let the waves
Rub some love into my body.
The body I had spent years
Comparing, dissecting and hating on.
When I turned my head to check on that finish line
I was laying on it.

I want that swagger
that comes from
expressing your
darkest corners
as art

turning locked away secrets
into freedom

walking around with a
sway in your step
because you know
every horrible circumstance
can be turned into creative beauty

this sway comes from the lightness
of nothing to hide
and no fear of the future

It’s so easy to find
the light in people.
Bring it to the front
and make them shine.
It feels so good
they remember you as the source.
Don’t even realize
it’s their own light
being reflected
back.
You smile brighter
when they reach for their sunglasses.