history


Hatred is motivation or so history has told us. But hatred is beautiful and hatred is evil and hatred is funneled into a woman as an incentive for her oppression or so history has taught us. Pandora's box was actually a jar. Cleopatra died of suicide, not in the hands of men. And men. Yes men, played broken telephone until the telephone was no longer a cord, but a leash to keep women from repeating the same history claimed to be the fault of women; grab her wrist, so she can't open the door to Hell. Make her believe her shadow is her best friend. Dismiss the fact that he himself locked her in that cave, but not to worry because she started the fire and she made friends with the ghosts in her head. It's scary when two enemies lock eyes because desire is blurred in the lines of the past. There is an affinity locked within the predisposition of their genetics that can never unlock the keys of their handcuffs. And with the many types of women in this world, there are a few type of men, each trying to find their place in society as women try to find their place out of it.  I don't believe in privilege, I believe in accidents of birth and prepackaged meal plans that force you into romance. It makes me angry, sickening really because if the devil were to look into my eyes, he would tell me to pick him a rose like men have picked me in the quest to fulfill their duties and desires. Still, with all this hate, I still find myself seeking the validation of the masters who made me a slave.







inspired by Hanif Abdurraqib, Farouq Jwaydeh and Plato. 

Comments

  1. ElianaMay 8, 2022 at 5:28 PM

    This is the most gorgeous poem I love it so much! I feel like you capture so many deep themes and have these incredible lines that just ring so powerfully it's amazing. I especially love "grab her wrist, so she can't open the door to Hell. Make her believe her shadow is her best friend. Dismiss the fact that he himself locked her in that cave, but not to worry because she started the fire and she made friends with the ghosts in her head." This is such a powerful line and really captures the misogynistic gaslighting that goes on in society that tries to pit women against each other. Really love!

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