Inner Peace

I’ve never found

Inner peace

In complacency….

In sitting back

And doing nothing

When faced with an injustice.

Folded arm apathy,

Is what eats at me…

It’s what actually

Destroys me,

Spiritually.

See,

I was raised

In the company

Of spineless women

Who folded in adversity.

Women who were taught

To bite their tongues

And smile pretty

Instead of having opinions.

Women who were taught

To cower

To male authority

Even if they disagreed

Because it was only men

Who belonged in the lead…

Women whose worth

Was manipulated

Into something minuscule

Through scripture verses

And holy ridicule.

Women who obeyed

And never

Found a voice

That wasn’t passive.

Women who gave their lives

To submissiveness

Without asking questions.

So, excuse me

If my volume

Is too loud.

Excuse me

If I stand up too tall

And put my fucking foot down.

Because I made a vow

That I will never allow myself

To be silenced

And I will never

Hand over my spine

To be defined

By anyone else’s opinion

But mine.