Gali

Cinderella fit the shoe

perfect-porcelain white-lotus-petal feet

slipping ever so gently into delicate glass slippers

apparently made just for her

by the handsome prince (he has no name)

I love being a girl 

but I hate what it took

for me to be able to go to school

for me to know I will be able to vote

for me to know that I will be allowed to get a job when I grow older

I believe

that peace

is when

the screaming and shouting and bellowing and crying out

of every generation that has pleaded

for this thing called peace

can settle itself and let us rest our throats.

It's that time of the month again

Anger fills my heart

Sadness fights for power

My eyes fall close

Yet I can't sleep

The pain in my abdomen

Bursting full like a bruise

Waking up

Bloody

I felt pretty today,

Like the glimmering sun.

I felt happy today,

Like nothing else mattered.

I felt confident today,

I can’t imagine living someplace else

Away from the people who knew my name when I was born, who never left my side,