Things that it’s not –
a heated exchange
six of one and
half a dozen of another
my fault
my responsibility to
take the blame for
the actions of a grown ‘man’
it’s a debilitating imbalance
of power and control
manipulatively designed
to crush my soul
enabled perpetrated
legally sanctioned
misogyny

Strength roosts in burned orange
igniting inner light
petal flames yellow red
incandescent and bright
flickering in hope of
marigold feathers fly
see the phoenix rise