Burning.

It was women who burned, but we are still here. 
Raising our voices.
With our smart mouths
And unapologetic bodies.

Birthing
And raising babies
Or choosing not to
Because we don't want to.

While running businesses
Countries
Non profits
And our homes.

All while daring to

Live
&
Breathe

As we choose to.
Instead of burning.

It was women who burned and it has lit a fire in all of us who have come since.
Smoldering under the surface.
Simply waiting for some fool to come strike a match in our presence.
To breathe their
Expectations
And rules
Of our womanhood too close to our souls.

We are women.
We do not bend to you.

You may have burned our sister's
But they left us the flame.

It was women who burned and it will be women who set this world a blaze.
You may watch.
You may stand in the warmth we create.
But you so much as think about putting out the fire our sisters left for us to carry

And our fire will be the very last thing you see.