I’ve got bruises,
ones you can’t see.

Cuz I’ve buried them deep within me
that is …until recently
when my body reminded me
in the form of PTSD
and it made me think
about all the things
that go unseen.

All the invisible scars.
All the activists behind bars
for trying to put out fires
Because the world is burning
and full of natural disasters
but what’s natural about
the system putting out fires
with gasoline?

Meanwhile I’m putting out fires in The Bronx
because the buildings never stopped burning.

Where I’m from, our lives never stop filling our lungs with smoke.

Tragedy after tragedy
and change is slow,
so it feels like none of us got any room to grow.

No room to breathe deep, or to debrief
all them silent battles and kids dying in these streets.

New York is home to a lot of things.
People who live and die by the fire.

so I know that’s why
I’ve got bruises.

Ones you can’t see.
I’ve buried them deep within me
that is … until recently.

Now, I’m on a mission to heal my bloodline.
Finding a home wherever there’s sunshine.

Sun kisses
and hopeful wishes.

Never had unconditional love,
and yet, it’s still something
my inner child misses.

But I’ve always had the love of the earth surrounding me.
Grounding me.
And through the pain, I found something profound in me.

The womb of the earth
took me in and rebirthed me as a Phoenix.

So even when the world is on fire,
I easily find something to love.
Something I adore enough to fight for.

I no longer look for love
outside of myself anymore.

These days,
I don’t just fall for anything
because me and my body
really been through everything.

Rebirth after rebirth.

Phoenix Ríszing.

To me,
the earth is just another
Phoenix rising
and that’s exactly why
she’s worth protecting.