Author: Sanaa Mirz
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Ugly Patriarchy
Woman, they say Your breasts get larger each day! It is now time To find a man, they conclude Hands clasped together As if my fate is already agreed upon A fate written by the tears of mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, and cousins Engraved into our family history This long-held tradition…
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Stereotypes
Featured Image: Lucxama Sylvain Aged eleven I knew Black was not beautiful That my 4c coils, dark brown skin, and protruding curves Made me too big, loud, and ugly Not blond enough, small enough, or white enough I was a sore thumb in a sea of white A sidekick in…
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Bad Love and Old Lies
She was proud. That much she knew. Lying in the hot Italian sun she turned once again watching as the world whirled and became submerged in the rose tint of her pink sunglasses. She smiled to herself hearing the screams of her friends as they splashed in the water becoming…
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An Exciting Life for the Depressed Mind
Trigger Warning: Mentions of suicidal thoughts and depression . . . My depression began at the age of twelve. I remember looking up one morning after I had washed my face wishing I were dead. It seemed that a tired dejected little Black girl’s face followed me around. Only her…
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Most Days
Some days chase me Making me run from the Devil himself Though even the Devil doesn’t make me run as far Knowing Depression can knock my very breath away With just one thought. But some days chase me anyway Making me some nervous shell Of the confident woman I pretend…
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Princess
I wear glittering jewels around my neck Though all they remind me of Is the weight of such a sour love A love like rotten cream That curdled long ago Under the heat of your hate Of my innocent wholeness. So determined to break me In order to convince yourself…
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Former Angels
Featured Image: Paulo Nicolello They tell us to hold on As if that ever stopped homes from washing away From a rushing flood Or stopped a plane From crashing down to Earth In a blaze of fire and fear. But our wings were sawed-off And we fell from the high…
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Muslim Enough
Featured Illustration: Shehzil Malik They ask me Are you fasting? Then look on with suspicion When I say no Waiting for some explanation As to why I’m not quite This caricature of a Muslim woman They’ve put together in their heads From scraps on the news, TV shows, movies, And…
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Funeral for my Straight Self
Featured Image: Laura Shannonhouse We are gathered here today The Masked Priest’s voice booms To celebrate the life Of this straight self Though voices wail And I open my eyes to peek Too curious to keep them shut And suddenly I see A hundred lovers so beautiful Though they weep…