Queendom

Amie Campbell

I am a country and a Queendom unto myself and my beauty has inspired awe for generations.

I have nourished humanity with my blood and they have built their homes with my bones, stretched my skin beneath their thrones.

I have sacrificed myself so that they may grow and prosper silent in my agony.

I am a country and a Queendom unto myself, but this is not a democracy. You cannot come and go and take from me as you please.

I am a living being and my body has boundaries. Sometimes they may be hazy and sometimes I may move them, but these boundary lines are mine to draw; these border walls are mine to build or let fall.

I am a country and a Queendom unto myself and I decide who is welcome in this land, who I will allow and who I will ban. You cannot storm my shores and declare my soul to be your promised land.

I existed long before you came and I will still be here when you’ve cut down all my trees, poisoned my air, boiled my seas.

I am a country and a Queendom unto myself and you are here by my permission and my grace, but you, sir, have forgotten your place.

You are a visitor here. Tread lightly. Those combat boots you wear leave tread marks in my hair.

I am a country and a Queendom unto myself and my body has boundaries. I will no longer allow you to come and go and take as you please.

So have your papers ready because I need to see some ID.