aftershock after March

think back to the month of March

remember smiles in the air?

resounding cheer, glee overarch

praising women everywhere

sweet soiree

*

recall the first who paved the way

hard and rugged but they weeded

foolish to put guards away

those self-righteous thieves succeeded

shocking play

*

our outcries void in the silence

integrity an all-time low

tempting are the acts of violence

but, sister, the lions circle slow

hungry for more

*

in the aftermath of this

the only feeling left is numb

blind from celebration bliss

never saw the hammer come

I fear encore

*

in the empty wake of March

I lingered in the church of lies

logic answers still at large

help us, please! I begged allies

but they left

*

babe, there’s nothing we can do

they softly whisper in our bed

a feminist, perhaps once true

yet under spotlight, fealty fled

utterly bereft

*

how am I to live like this?

constant fear of old men’s ink

difficult not to reminisce

body, say, choice– in a blink

mine no more

*

nausea, fear, anxiety

will not master my emotion

rights won’t come from absentee

you and I must be the motion

this is war

*

welcome hell and high water

from scorned hands, havoc wrought

fighting for my unborn daughter

to have the choice we do not

fury bites

*

joyful songs of women faded

resounding ringing in our ear

resolute though unaided

celebrate we shall this year

with rights