Michaela Smith

Michaela Smith (she/her) is a recent Rider graduate who majored in Communication Studies and minored in Arts and Entertainment Industries Management. She enjoys writing poetry, and hopes to publish a book of poems in the future. She is a creative thinker who loves to experiment with different forms of writing. Michaela loves music, painting, and spending time with friends.

How do you define my existence?                                   Perceive me as a man

My crimson-stained cheeks                                              a chiseled jawline

with jet-black eyelashes and                                             a stare that breaks bones

tear splatters on my face                                                   sculpted in the image of Achilles

weeping with regret                                                          being masculine means void of emotion

it is all I know, as a woman                                              is weakness, because

carrying the weight                                                          of the world, that

of expectations, but only                                                  I cannot fail, to

crumble into ashes, it would                                            be a disgrace, it is a fate

befit for a tragic heroine                                                   I do not want

to be Ophelia, dead among the flowers or                       to be Hamlet, with his ambition

poisoned by insanity                                                         motive to kill

the parts of me that I hate                                                 it is in my nature, after all

I want to unleash my rage                                                vengeance is my birthright

A descendant of my mother’s temper                              eager to devour anyone

who stands in my way, now                                             prepare to be ripped apart

being feminine means living and dying                           by envy’s sword