woman / like a word they erase / then rewrite in smaller letters / like a body they claim / then break into laws / no / you cannot / yes / you must / hands that have never held pain / pulling the strings of her life / she wakes / to find herself shrinking / choices dissolving like snails in salt / yesterday she was whole / today she is a question / tomorrow she will be a whisper / her voice / they say / is too loud / her grief / they say / is too much / her freedom / they say / was never hers to keep / but she stands / fists full of what they stole / belly full of fire / mouth full of names / she will not forget / she will not / no matter how small they try to make her / she will not / she will not.
-waverly vernon
*Originally Published in Creation Magazine, Volume 08: A Blueprint Issue
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Anthology of Eleos 