She Was Painted Black

She was painted black
With metallic makeup on her lips
And eyes.

She could see in the dark
She could speak about the dark
She could feel the dark’s pain.

She was loyal to the world
On fire for so many
Advocate for the tired.

She mourned for the world
But shedding no tears
Ever.

She stayed awake in the night
Looking up often
Paying tribute to the moon and its allies.

The moon glittered across the sky
Symbol of beauty in the night
And direction to the lost.

She wanted to feel reality
Not a dumbed down reality
But the whole thing, raw.


by Michelle Nicole Murphy