I Am Them

A Poem

My Photo, Graffiti Artwork

I’ve seen myself as other
more than I’ve been woman
curves created in a day
puberty in grade school
where the men thought
to play with flesh
not made for their
consumption
smelling woman
before my mouth
ever said the word.

I look to my mother a mountain
my grandmother a woman
of compassion for animals
saving abused horses
with a gun
pointed at her face
chin raised
defiant
uncompromising
demanding
they are matriarchs
within a patriarchal society
hear these lionesses
roar in their speech
I am them
they are me.