I am the Woman
your Mother warned you about
the one whose darkness
was hidden below the sunny faux finish
of excellent manners
honor roll grades
my monster heart hidden
so well that no one noticed
me drowning
in my self-hate
I am the Woman
who cut my teeth
on black leather
and handcuffs
control a requirement
for my release
I am the Woman
with scrolls of black ink
symbols of resistance
of resilience
etched inch by inch
on my skin
a reclaiming of a body
that was not always
my home
I am the Woman
who casually mentions
my ex-lovers
male and female
at the holiday table
pass the gravy, please
I am the Woman
who finally started to speak
silence is not golden
truth is silver
and has wings
Christine E. Ray lives outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A former Managing Editor of Sudden Denouement Publications, she founded Indie Blu(e) Publishing with Kindra M. Austin in September 2018. Ray is the author of Composition of a Woman and The Myths of Girlhood. Her writing is also featured in We Will Not Be Silenced: The Lived Experience of Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Told Powerfully Through Poetry, Prose, Essay, and Art, Anthology Volume I: Writings from the Sudden Denouement Literary Collective, Swear to Me, and All the Lonely People. Read more of her work at https://braveandrecklessblog.com/.
Heretics, Lovers, and Madmen 
Reblogged this on Brave & Reckless and commented:
Proud to be on Heretics, Lovers, and Madmen today as part of the ‘I Am the Woman’ series
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Reblogged this on cabbagesandkings524 and commented:
Christine Ray at Heretics, Lovers, And Madmen – Yes, that woman, speaking truth, not silent
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A woman appears
To some like an apparition
To others like a prophet
A truth speaker
Speaker of things long suppressed
A voice liberated and
Not to go silent
While breath remains
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Excellent- thank you Bob!
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You’re very welcome. Glad you liked it.
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Brilliant poem Christine. This basically should be your short bio–describes you to the T.
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Reblogged this on Megha's World and commented:
Come read this brilliant poem from a talented writer.
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Reblogged this on Kindra M. Austin and commented:
I am absolutely in love with this piece by Christine E. Ray. ❤
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Powerful…..and a bit scary…….
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LOL. Thank you. I have heard once or twice that I can be a little intimidating
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