2025 me
is feeling proud of my life
at last
the shame of feeling less than others
the shame of bowing to the needs of others
and squashing my own
the shame of struggling to find my own voice
and following it confidently
finally
has melted
and the phoenix me
in all its alternative complexities
is rising
once
for a photo shoot
I would have worked my hair
into a controlled shape
(no obvious loose, stray ends)
my smile would be shaky
and probably
if a selfie
my outline would be somewhat blurred
however
this morning
I was feeling creatively alive
different
the photograph is not studied
it is
as is
and I feel happy
