these rags......

let me shed
these threadbare rags
the clothes of convention
wardrobe of society      
ecclesiastical attire
the dirty laundry of
women like me
of women
of me
of ME

these garments
that encumber me so
that stifle and stigmatize
that suffocate my soul
suffer me so

suffer my heart

rip them from my body
strip them away from the meat of my bones
tear them from my pure white flesh
the touch of them igniting burning branding
the texture of my thoughts

then throw them back
from whence they came
from whence they were sent
into the cesspools
of their own making
they have designed their own demise
and will inherit their own destruction
in their own way and in their own time

and i
i shall dress
i shall dress me
in the fabric of my imagination
the tapestry of tangible visions
woven from the heartstrings
of mine own spirit
i shall wear frocks of silken silence
shaped by voices unheard
sewn with the threads of
my heart’s love

dressing or not dressing

in my own way and in my own time

and i
i shall live  
i shall live by the dictates
of mine own heart
by the requisites of
love that guides me
bears me with its beauty
with its truth
upholding that which is good
which bears no evil
which loves for loves sake alone
giving all to love for love
asking nothing in return
loving as i go
in my own way and in my own time

and i
i shall love
i shall love you

YOU