I Am

by Christine Elizabeth Ray

I am

fragments of poetry

wisps of dreams

drifting musical notes

memories captured in amber

metal dragons

origami cranes

blood orange kisses

words of strength

etched in ink on skin

poet’s soul

woman’s heart

lover’s passion

witch’s spirit

shield maiden’s battle cry

pieces of me, all

I drink the moon

hear my own music in my veins

listen to all the women I am

who demand to be

made visible

made whole

who tell me that I am

done apologizing

done containing

my darkness

my fierceness

my light

to make others comfortable

I am

done whispering

* * * * *

© 2017 Christine Elizabeth Ray – All Rights Reserved

Christine Elizabeth Ray is an indie author and freelance editor who lives outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is the creator of the blog Brave and Reckless and Managing Editor of The Sudden Denouement Literary Collective (Blood Into Ink, Sudden Denouement, Sudden Denouement Publishing, & Whisper and the Roar) as well as Indie Blu(e).  Her writing has been featured on SpillWords, fēlan poetry & visual zine, Nicholas Gagnier’s Swear to Me (2017), and his upcoming collection, All the Lonely People. Christine’s first book of poetry, Composition of a Woman, was published by Sudden Denouement Publishing in July of 2018. Her second book of poetry, The Myths of Girlhood, is scheduled for release later this year.