Sisters raise your sons and daughters

Who raised these men?

Who seek to rescue me

Own me

Control me

And ridicule me?

Who raised these men?

Who talk down to my friends and fawn and gush

And can't seem to compliment anything but their looks- physical attributes...

Who raised these men?

Who don't realize the skill

And talent and brains 

Of the women they behold daily 

Who raised these men

Who dishonor and rape

And beat and yet think

It is their strength they uphold?

Who raised them?

Who raised these men?

Where are my sisters?

Too busy in gossip

Too busy ripping other women apart

Too busy competing with each other

For a man's attention

Who are you sir?

You put down my friend

And compliment me?

She and I are one you see

Disrespect her and you disrespect me

What happened to mothers?

How did theses men

Birthed from wombs

Learn how to spit in a woman's face?

Wake up my sister!

Chastise your son!

He mistreats a woman

He mistreats you!

Wake up my sister!

You watch him cheat

He cheats with you

If he cheats on her

He cheats on you

Wake up my sister

Help me up

If you put me down

You put you down too

Be a woman, dear sister 

Rise!

Speak!

Dear sister 

Raise your spirit

Raise your sons

Raise your daughters

Raise you too

Locke- mentor, friend and fellow human

I cannot do funerals. 

 I'm not good at goodbye's I never have been. I'm even worse with the goodbye's I did not get to say.

 I went over conversations and looked through all my emails and text messages from Don Locke, and sat with my thoughts for a while. 

I am trying to find some peace and one email in particular, is the one I'm holding on too.

We were sky divers, Don Locke and I. We talked of risk taking and standing for what we believe no matter the cost, and we talked of life! The LIVING part of life, the part where you must live- loud, proud and unafraid, owning who you are and what you are!

We had talked of bucket lists too- And today amid my tears I hope he got every last check mark on his...

And it seems fitting to use a skydiving term to wish my dear friend good bye- 

BLUE SKIES DON...

Fly high!

Milk and honey- the night she read to me

The words she reads

Echo my life

Her life

We weep

This child of mine

Is exquisite

And her soul

Divine

We talk through

The book she reads

I know why 

She weeps

We speak of fathers

Of lovers 

Of love

Of self love 

She tells me 

I'm strong

I tell her

YOU make me strong

She finds herself afraid

And excited to grow

To be

Like me

I am content

To be me

And having a daughter

Who wants to be like me

I am 

I begin to see

Exactly where the universe

Intended me to be

Way to God

I thought back to the days we played together...

We laughed

We cried 

We grew up together

And now it's hard to recall

We once were that way

In judgement now

He stands before me

With a verdict on his lips

He who I have always fought for

He who never fought for me

How fast the times change

How it stings the most 

When those that hurt you

You love the most

And so it goes

You judge me

Shall I judge you too?

For judging me...

It's easier for me

Now to forgive

Your ignorance 

I'm exhausted from speaking

Always saying my piece

You will believe 

What you choose to believe

It's easier for me

To simply walk away

There's your way

And my way

And how many wars will we wage

Over the ways

That lead to God?