We do not lie down
to be trod upon

We do not wear our skin
for the liking of others

We do not swallow words
to avoid discord

We stand
We speak
We occupy
our space in this world

We learn
against the stream
with a tidal rage
we push
to care for ourselves
to nurture
to accept
to love these bodies

Despite the endless messages
telling us
“you are not enough.”

And this moment
for each woman
becomes motion
and that motion
becomes a movement
until each day
is a march
towards progress

No longer one woman’s voice
speaking out
in isolation