Super Heroes

Sometimes doubt slithers in,

venomous as a rattler in tall grass,

hissing that I’m too much

and somehow still

not enough.

I loved men who gift-wrapped

cruelty and called it caring,

who slammed doors in my face

like my existence

was an unwanted solicitor.

Turns out

the homeowners

over-assessed their value.

And I’m not standing

outside those houses anymore.

I’m standing with superheroes—women who refuse to let me disappear.

Phoenix tells the truth

with the sugar licked off,

bitter but necessary.

Claudia says the hard things

out loud

so they echo.

Calliope listens

like a net under a tightrope,

no judgment,

just there

when gravity pushes down.

Diana laughs

and points out my good qualities

like landmarks on a map

I forgot I drew.

Karen reminds me

I’m fun and funny.

Ain’t a bitch

till you make me one.

Still capable of igniting a room

without burning it down.

And Sheri

shines like full noon sunlight,

warmth spilling everywhere

because the universe

didn’t install a dimmer switch.

They remind me I’m lovable

when the old doubts start to scream.

They remind me I’m lovable

when all I remember

how to do

is shrink.

They say it clear.

They say it loud.

Usually with flair,

and never fake.

I know they’ll keep repeating it

until my own voice

dares to steal the line.

Maybe I needed the storm

so I’d have a survival story.

Maybe the fire in me

had to scorch my ground clean

so their light

had somewhere to settle.

They remind me I’m lovable

when the old doubts start talking.

They remind me I’m lovable

when I’m feeling small and weak.

With this league of women behind me,

one day I’ll say it first.

No trembling.

No hesitation.

No doubt.

But today

their voices carry me.

And that’s

their superpower.

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The line "Ain’t a bitch till you make me one" is from the song "I Ain't a Bitch" by Alaura Lynne.