THE WALL

A tongue held so many times it’s worn thin A voice so silenced it’s lost vigor. I try to remember what it once was like— She reminds me from the other side.

I keep hitting my head against the wall. ,

I hear a familiar voice, The one that effortlessly booms throughout a room, Opinions, narratives, and antics grazing every corner. She provokes smiles, laughter, excitement Then, the glares and whispers begin. They shock me back to reality. A dog strapped to an obedience collar; A stark retreat and she fades behind the wal The brick scraping my skin, The barrier between us Is a reminder of everything I am not, Of who I should be But can never be. I hide her behind the wall— It’s what keeps the glares away, A bird in a cage who can never sing To hide from gratuitous judgment And simply get by.

Ira is a goddess of passion, a force of fiery emotion that burns within the hearts of all who feel deeply. She is a symbol of the raw power of desire, the intensity of emotion that can consume us and transform us in equal measure. She is a reminder of the importance of embracing our emotions, of allowing ourselves to feel deeply and authentically. Ira exudes the power of vulnerability, of the courage it takes to open our hearts and souls to the world around us.