There Is Room for All of You Here

by Michaela Angemeer

i keep confusing feeling understood with someone understanding how to manipulate me

making my sadness palatable has become second nature minimizing it like it’s not there all the time hiding with a smile even when i’m the only one there to see it

i would be more upset that you forgot about me if i didn’t forget about me too

if i’m the only one trying how do we heal the bonds between us

do we accept the love we think we deserve or do we accept the love we were taught we deserved

why do i have to make my anger agreeable like i'm not allowed to be mad unless i immediately tie it up in a bow

is it self-sabotage if it's in my dna women hiding for generations all i hear is hundred-year-old echoes of it's not safe to be yourself

what if you find someone who knows you don’t deserve to be discarded.

maybe we’re not doomed we just need to eat a vegetable sit with the sun on our face call a friend take a walk or a deep breath hold someone’s hand drink a glass of water smell a freshly cut flower take a shower maybe there’s nothing to be afraid of anymore

where is the line between advocating for myself and trying to control someone else

i'd rather love you like i mean it than be too scared to try

look at how you’ve grown even without the sun

i can love you with all of me and still have so much more to give