Highly Critical

I came here to gain asylum To the land of sparkles, flowers, and perfume Rumors spoke of a place Where the people are friendly and the gates are open But when I arrived Clothes torn Sweaty Back aching There was a padlock “You can become a citizen if you try hard enough!” But the toll asked me to pay with blood, culture and my sense of self Hollywood and Los Angeles New York and Miami “The better the benefits, the higher the price! If you want to be a citizen, just go under the knife!” The misery fogs around me People bump into me as they pass Head down, shoulders slumped On the other side people smile Wide and bright With plum and cherry lips and dress shirts I pull out my switchblade and approach the toll The woman behind the counter speaks Clear and nice while she points to the bowl The more it fills, the more I grow faint My skin grows paler, my body thinner My accent drifts away Finally, the gates creak open I see someone ...

How can I restrain my desire to reach out and admire the most beautiful artwork of all? Easy, I fear the day of rejection that trashes my affection despite my earnest objection

Upturned Goddess who turned you around? Looking crazy chips upon your crown Loss composure we'll get you right side down Upturned Goddess who stole your smile? Teeth dazzling fans linin' up for a whole mile begging and pleading for seven numbers to dial Upturned Goddess I'll help polish you uncovering your glory my heart went and got stuck since finding you has been my greatest luck

Going 35 miles per hour along a smooth road Lined with evergreen lawns Shiny, sparkling SUVs and sedans zoom past While pink faces stroll leisurely In creased jeans and crisp polo shirts I look down at my blouse missing a few stitches And my shoes, sun-stained and tattered Different shades of brown walk up and down the aisle My stomach grumbles it’s greetings Yet another hunger deepens I brush lint off my ill-fitting slacks As we slow to a halt Will I ever make it to the other side of the glass Or am I doomed to forever look through it

Like many people, before Gina Roco dropped her version of why she ended her planned wedding and engagement to the author of the blog Until I Get Married , I haven't heard of Jozen Cummings. Most people who knew of them, are shocked to hear the reason behind the erupt end of their relationship. From the outside, it seemed healthy and loving, with him consistently shouting out Gina as his beloved girlfriend. From his social media to panels he was a part of, Jozen let the world know that he proudly claimed her as his partner. He even developed a reputation for being a genuine man, giving other bachelors advice on how to avoid giving in to toxic masculinity. So why were we all blindsided to find out that he betrayed Gina by having unprotected sex with another woman? I want to emphasize that I'm not too familiar with Cummings. This isn't about him personally. He's just the most current public example of a specific type of man that many women have and will have to deal...