September 29, 2026

For those of us who live at the shoreline

standing upon the constant edges of decision

crucial and alone

for those of us who cannot indulge

the passing dreams of choice

who love in doorways coming and going

in the hours between dawns

looking inward and outward

at once before and after

seeking a now that can breed

futures

like bread in our children’s mouths

so their dreams will not reflect

the death of ours;

For those of us

who were imprinted with fear

like a faint line in the center of our foreheads

learning to be afraid with our mother’s milk

for by this weapon

this illusion of some safety to be found

the heavy-footed hoped to silence us

For all of us

this instant and this triumph

We were never meant to survive.

And when the sun rises we are afraid

it might not remain

when the sun sets we are afraid

it might not rise in the morning

when our stomachs are full we are afraid

of indigestion

when our stomachs are empty we are afraid

we may never eat again

when we are loved we are afraid

love will vanish

when we are alone we are afraid

love will never return

and when we speak we are afraid

our words will not be heard

nor welcomed

but when we are silent

we are still afraid

So it is better to speak

remembering

we were never meant to survive.⠀⠀⠀

I feel like I’ve found the 9 ¾ platform to a prestigious university I’ve never dreamed of sitting in a classroom of. Reflections, time and positioning -  how humans gravitate to a singular coordinate on this Earth.

This poem was one of the two readings we were assigned for our pilot class… It is so funny being at a time in my life where i’m both student and teacher.. It’s a new season and I’m writing this from a different age ;)

Meditate this poem with me and you can write to me how it made you feel if you’d like

<3 althea@howtobevenus.net <3