Sunrise on the uprise

Able to run,

Able to move,

Able to make my own decisions,

Carve my own path,

A privilege I’ll never take for granted,

Sunrise on the uprise.

Millions of women fight -

for the chance to even make it outside.

I refuse to swept up in the rose-tinted hues,

the constant nagging in my ear,

what I should and shouldn’t do,

My presence in the room -

an unwritten test.

How small should I shrink myself?

Lower myself to him.

Make myself sweet, permissible -

Accessible.

So as not to break the bank.

Red lipstick,

Bright lights,

Fake smiles,

How do I win the ultimate prize?

of being claimed,

Swept off my feet,

but not seen.

No guarantees in this lifetime,

No guarantees that he’ll be in the room,

and fully listen to absorb the words, the sounds,

wrestled from my throat.

He’s simply not expected to.

I trek to the moon and back

praying for the light of day -

The day I can unearth myself,

and set my needs right next to his.

The day I can rest my face,

Quit hiding my disgrace and flustered cheeks,

For being told I’m too demanding

All because I want more -

emotional intelligence and generosity.

I want him to see me.

But what do I know?

It’s just the norm,

The expectation -

What we were made for,

God given, righteous servitude.

Until I then,

I lay my head on my bed,

Comforted by the waves,

ocean breeze,

fluffy sheets,

drifting into my dreams,

where I don’t have to fight to be seen.