Stilettos by Evanescist
Even in this world my weapon of
choice is my femininity. My entire
life I have been dancing on the
surface of the patriarchy’s double-
edged blade. To this match I will
show up as the fabric of my prom
dress, layered tulle bunching up
At my ankles. Still vulnerable, still
soft. On this altar I will pierce
myself and die for this cause. I’m
charting a course for myself by
puncturing the night sky, stars
lighting a way forward. This is
going to be beautiful. This is going
to be me braiding the hair of the
girl whose world has always been
halved by another’s arrogance. No
knight in shining armor will come
to save me. Just myself, at nineteen,
all smudged eyeliner and plaid skirt
still winking flirtatiously over my
shoulder at the future I want for myself.
I’ll fight this fight with my knuckles
bare and bloodied. For something I
have been doing my entire life, wrestling
need not be violent. It must only be
a woman.
Evanescist is an evanescent poet, in that she writes only in fleeting moments of inspiration, for the love of the game.
Other Featured Poems
Braced in Aotearoa I find
no frozen facedown dead,
but that water stays water,
no matter how old.
the government made the road barriers green to say not everything that is green is yours.
the room stays warm. the city keeps humming.
but for the first time, the future does not smell like fresh paint.the room stays warm. the city keeps humming.
but for the first time, the future does not smell like fresh paint.
I used to fear the maze and its confrontations, but
isn't it a form of freedom and choice? We choose