She can snap a smile to bloom
A smidgen of warmth carried
To the heart’s core is her balm
Manifests into an extraordinary dais
Of reckoning is her North Star

With words, a vote, a march,
a quickening - vocal intonation
A weapon of undeniable prestige
She will say it
She will do it
She will write to deny it
She will vote to claim it

Yet, in 2017 a stage of
Constitutional might
protesting the people’s right,
She. Was. Denied.

“Nevertheless, she persisted”
Speaking up, trying to
Read that letter
Breathing deeply -
For again, yet another
Woman was momentarily
Silenced -

Feistiness adorns her
Tenacity is her hue -
Tit for tat
She leaves no stone unturned
Her words are true
Her heart pure
Warren’s Senatorial fists fly
In flurries of fury

Breathe, sisters
Breathe, brothers
Breathe, Breathe

To stand still and conquer
A rage - a storm
Decimating, land, sea, air
Singeing to the core
Hearts, minds, love, and
Coretta

Oh, Coretta
Tears become me.
I am adrift in this
Constitutional mire -
Dirt, dust, feces

Persistence,
Perseverance
When will this not
Matter anymore
An equal voice
An equal mind
An equal heart

“Nevertheless, she persisted.”
He said. At that betrayal
A dagger pierced my heart
Scissor-like with an Olympian’s
Precision shredding to vapors,
But Igniting a call to arms

Persist little girls
Persist little boys
Persist Custodians
Persist Teachers
Persist all ye
Persist to never let your
Voices be shuttered

No. More.