I wrote this poem in October of 2022.

in the land of exhaustion, I silently pray for a burst of energy
to get me through the last 4 hours of the work day
to make me fake perky and be productive at my job
I wrote this poem in 2019 when I got into a fight with a friend because he was cruel to one of my friends. After this fight, we didn’t talk for 2 years but we ended up reconnecting in the summer of this year.

βControl myselfβ, he said as I called out his misogyny
his fragile ego couldnβt handle hard truths thrown at him
he thinks that he has a license to offend
because of the organ between his legs and the pale color of his skin-
He thinks that Iβm wrong for not sitting still and silent
He thinks that I have no right to stand up for myself
βControl myselfβ, he said to and βfuck offβ I replied to him
you wonβt ever be able to control a woman like me
I wrote this poem in October of 2025.

compasses, faded maps, stereos, VCRS, corded phones
all relics of another era
when we werenβt one click away from seeking validation
from our peers or the news trying to break us with each headline
simpler times when we could ignore
what was happening around us