young girl (a story haiku)

inevitably
nervous, he stumbled, quickened
my hesitant smile

his literal in-
stability, a magnet
to my naive heart

oh yes, I will change
that one, watch him grow, flower
like my chia pet

realization, he's
not a common houseplant
waiting for water

his roots formed long ago
by his blood, his desires
realization, he

will not change for me
suddenly morph into a
knowing gentleman

all he knows is that
i will bend for him, create
reasons he is fine

so now i'm cement
fixed in place to remember
big girls don't crumble

they build their own castles
while their princes chase frogs
they become ruler

stand

stand
for each other
for peace
for love

stand up
for each other

let's let the bias
end

let's hold hands,
pray for ourselves
for each other

pray
for a world
where education rules
and our brilliant minds
need not to fight
because we have love
because we are bright

stand up
for what you believe
judge things
based on what your two
eyes have seen
have researched
have evidence for

pray
stand up
take each others' sides
take each other
by the hand
stand up
for each other

there's nothing on tv

this life
of glamour
reality tv
hairstyles and fashions

some are living on hope
and rations

women sold
for milk, exchanged so
a family can have a cow

so what to do
what to do now,

get angry
send money
say something

there's nothing on TV
we're out of chips

ten people share a room
give manicures to ladies
in the city

ladies like me

there's nothing on tv