Rebel

I will not comply

I will never

fit

into the confines

of a box

you cannot force

a star

into a square

or a round

hole.

I will not think

in parallels

either perpendicular

or horizontal

I will not love

this neighbor

and hate

that one

dependent upon

simple geography

if sides of

tracks are meant to

divide

I say build

a bridge!

I will not

sit quiet

and serve only

the supposition

of a woman's worth

I am more

than 31 things

and all of them

are fearfully and

wonderfully

made.

I will not

bend to any

TikTok trend

I will bare all

of me

no filter

just raw

naked

real

ugly

beauty

I will

tell it like it is

I will

wear the red lipstick

and the bikini

and I will

set up caution tape

so all will know

my boundaries

I will declare 39

the new 29

and continue to say 2003

was only

like

10 years ago

I will make beautiful things

in a world that celebrates

the negative.

I will make starlight in

the dark

so that,

as one great poet once said

"There will be stars

over this place forever"

I will always be

a rebel.

I will not comply