Pickin' Petals

I.

I've not picked 

at petals of flowers

and pulled them in years,

so the garden around me is full

And in all of the oysters in the sea

I've left their pearls in tact,

as I've become the jewel

And for those petals I'd used before

inqueries of "Do they love me?"

or "Do they love me not?" with 

eyes and hands in begging form

Have been laid to rest beneath the soil,

so their children can be born

Instead of wading the sea,

I've become it, wouldn't you know

Before, I choked on the tides, 

now I've become the blow

I've not picked no petals

of my flowers in my garden

in years, looking for love

from a world who never gave

a damn for a girl like me to begin with

'Stead, I said, I became the garden, 

the gardener, the sea, the pearl, 

and even an ungovernable wordsmith

...I've not picked no petals from 

this here garden, and I'll be damn...

I finally see less of what I was told to be, 

and love me for what I am.

Make it stand out

B. Elae

is an author, poet, performer, and small business owner from a small town in Indiana who's carried out her long existing passion to serve youth and survivors of crime while writing poetry. Longing to create a safe space for the seemingly unseen and overlooked, B. started sharing and performing her poetry over 9 years ago with hopes her work would offer comfort, support, honesty, and connection. Currently working on her third poetry book and new merchandise and art, you can read more of B. Elae's work on Facebook (@B. Elae), and/or Instagram (@b.elae).

Link to last poetry book, "girl with shovel" on Amazon (also available on Barnes & Noble):