The darkness

The darkness is a strange place

I know it well

You knew it too

The darkness beguiles at times

It's cold caress

The promise of nothingness

With a heart so broken 

The mind wants simply 

To forget 

The pain

I too

know the pain

And yet

How could you

Succumb

Let go

Embrace

It so...

I don't know

I'm mad at you

I'm sad

Confused

I don't even know

How could you

Succumb

Let go

Embrace

It so...

Wisdom of the falling leaves

Shedding leaves

One by one

Held on

For so long

Each a story

All its own

With each falling

Come tears of blood

With the tears

Acceptance comes

It comes but at a 

Handsome cost

You must feel

To let go

You feel

You falter

Let go and

Fall

And with each falling

You are caught

Float softly down

In the arms of grace 

Shedding leaves

One by one

Held on for so long

Hurts and loves

With each falling

A fear of loss

And with each loss

Something's gained

Shedding tears now

So many come

Like leaves falling

In the fall

So many memories

To let go

Like a monsoon

Floods the plain

Shedding stories

Shedding lives

Shedding sorrows

Shedding skins

Raw and weeping

Gnarly plain

Stands the tree now

Stripped and bare

Standing still

Majestic

Tall

Cold yet lovely

Winter comes

Stoic

Silent

Somber

Strong

The tree stands despite

The seasons' toll

Hope of spring time

In the air

It waits 

Patient

For times to change

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Poison

In my veins 

Politics

Dirty tricks

Cannibals

At my flesh pick

Vultures

In corporate suits

With rancid breath

And clammy hands

Grab my ass

Harrass

My silent screams

Unheard

Through the maze

Of formal complaints

In shock and dazed

I chase the shadows

Of human rights

Betrayed

ENRAGED

Wounded spirit

Tired feet

No screams

My lips sealed

The CEO free

While I can't breathe

It has a name

This

PLAGUE

Say it

Out loud

Not all who break

Were physically raped

For some the exploitation

Was mental

Emotional 

Some were grabbed

Groped

Harassed

A word 

Remark 

Or two

Demeans

Invades

MY SPACE

IT HAS A NAME

This plague

Say it

Out loud

I rise

From cinder, ash and dust

I rise

With each tear that falls

I am cleansed

Hello there

Who are you

I love you

I love you

I love you

I love you

I love you

My heart

My soul

I love you

I know this heart

I know this soul

This face

This hand

Wrinkled

Broken

Worn

And still

I love you

From the ashes 

And the dust

Yet I rise

And with each blow

That felled me

To the ground

Even as you watched

From that crumpled heap

I rose

Yes I rise

Anew

Reborn

Untorn

Ever free

Wild

I rise

I love you

I love you

I love you

I rise