Brown Goddesses

When life becomes disappointing,

When society turns on you

and stops making sense,

When you find new joys

rising up your belly like butterflies

and you are told to swallow them whole,

because "log kya kahenge?"

Take a deep breath, baby

and close your eyes;

Think of sugar canes,

sweet and fibrous,

thick -

Think of the women

that toil each day,

resolute spines,

determined hips

calloused hands

soft against your cheek -

Revel in the pure luck

and lose yourself in joy:

you exist here,

in this moment,

this era

in this place.

The sacrifices of so many

before you

have afforded you this privilege -

to live wholly

explore roads previously untraveled

and seek new paths.

To make mistakes

and own up to them, too.

So, sister -

listen closely when the brown goddess calls

from within,

feel her golden caramel blood

circulating your veins,

reminding you that you

belong simply to yourself,

no permission slips

no buyers-bewares

no remorse.

Step out your front door

and feel what it's like

to be afraid of no one.

Live your life

to the fullest,

taste the sweetness

of autonomy on your

tongue

and

wear the crown

of independence

like this

is the one thing,

you were made for.