The Witch Doesn't Burn in This One

by Amanda Lovelace

haven’t you ever wished you could dance in the ashes of everyone who ever doubted your worth & scoffed at your words?

so what happens when women finally learn to throw back?

gods, i hope i terrify you.

we finally refused to be seen as only bodies crafted for the men’s use&consumption, so we set the clouds ablaze to sway them, to show them how wonderfully we could coexist, but they chose to take it as a threat & they have never fully forgiven us for claiming the portion of the sky that was always rightfully ours.

you are your own lighthouse.

“they say . . . you’re all going to pay,” i whisper. - the leaves never lie.

all the odds are stacked against you. - & never giving up in spite of it.

red lipstick: an external sign of internal fire.

they wanted us weak but forced us to be strong.

we need you here & whole.

sometimes friendship is the motherfucking prize, so be grateful i let you in at all.

resurrect a queendom in its place—