What If I'm Ready

How many times do I bleed

before I am a woman

How many heartbreaks

how many lines

must etch themselves upon my face

before I am no longer a girl

Will it take

like my mother tells me

a child of my own

to know what it is

to leave this adolescence

What if I never bear fruit

aren’t we are all mothers anyway

aren't we all creating something

making this world

with our words

and our forgiveness

Our children are not only ours

this whole world raises us

My heartbeat feels as old as time

what if the flame has been passed

somebody tell me

how do I be

What if I'm ready

is there room for me yet