a reader

 In my head, I'm all sorts of things: brave, loud whenever I want to be, always knowing the right thing to say, and when practicing reading my poetry, it's perfect with hand gestures and confidence. And then there's the moments between those thoughts and what actually comes out.

At today's reading, my first feature, I will let go of all that holds me back. Part of that is drawing on the women before me and their voices, work, and sometimes, nakedness.