once young
black haired
soft skinned
white boned
goddesses
fire between teeth
and knives for voices
shattering glass
butterflies trapped
in vocal cords
fluttering madly
beneath ribs
rivers of scarlet
in veins of gold
rushing in rainstorms
they danced
for the sky
they thundered
for its loyalty
they laced
sovereignty
through their hair
and wore pearls
along the edges
of every wound
they bared
their teeth
at every walking fear
hunting dragons
screaming at the sun
blazing fire
and broken tiaras.
boundless
unbroken
regal.
now they sit
quiet in cars
drumming fingers
against windows
instead of shouting
they are silent
listening to others
tell them what to do.
(we are still queens,
you know.)
