subtle poisons.

---

​click on the photo or "read more" to continue reading poem.

---

I have risen above thinking your heart
worthy of my thoughts -
your outdated image of me
can never contain truth
because you call stagnation comfort.

I have risen above sharing darkness with you;
the sun moves with a predictability 
and tenderness 
you cannot muster, 
during day or night.

I have risen above accepting your hands
as worthy of being called safe;
I have learned how it should feel -
when hands touch with love.

when you thought you could own 
the currency 
of my very confidence,
when you thought you could own 
dawn’s power over me,
when you thought you could own 
me through your touch,
to each one of you, I say: your efforts failed.

​I have risen above your lies;
you cannot own anyone’s mind,
you cannot own anyone’s body,
and none of you – or anyone else –
can ever own me.

I have found many hearts that know me
and remind me how well I know myself.
I have found peace in mornings 
free from your violence,
where the sunshine helped me befriend the night.
I have found hands worthy of being called safe,
they know gentleness and love.

now, when I explore my memories, 
I leave alone your snowed-in façades, 
I travel to the warm glow of friends – of family.

here and now, 
with those I choose to spend my energy on,
we seek better ways to be, to do, and to love.
yes, in our imperfectness,
but, oh, how beautiful it is:
we are not willing to settle
for toxic imitations of love.

---