I'm a disco ball

i am pink, white, gold,
i am green, purple, black,
i am beige, i am yellow,
i am low, i am sad,
i am happy, i am free,
i am you, but also me,
i am brown, i am queer,
i am brave without fear,
i am loud, i am proud,
i never stop speaking up
and calling out.
i am a butterfly
with wings
made of photons.
i have no patience
to hold space for
misogynist morons.
because first of all,
i’m a disco ball.

i have no light
left in me
of my own,
but that does not
stop me from
shining on.
i’m delicate,
sophisticated,
dramatic,
i am campy,
dancy, and
erratic.
my rage is not tamed,
my freedom unashamed,
i’m abuse-repulsive,
with self-love
that’s compulsive,
kindness stuck on me
in a million ways,
just like i reflect
a million coloured rays
off my face.
i am a tree
with roots in the sky,
kindness kinda
gives me a high.
i am endlessly healing,
feeling so many feelings,
because first of all,
i am a disco ball.

there’s no award
for suffering silently,
so i use my voice
to stand up for me.
i am the woman
who stays at home,
to care for those
she calls her home.
i am the woman
who works to earn,
not just money
but some dignity
of her own.
i am the girl
who wears
what she wants
and shows up at school.
i am the rebel
who thinks
autonomy &
equality are cool.
i am thin,
i am fat,
i am pookie,
i am brat.
because first of all,
i’m a disco ball.

i’m the broken pieces
of a mirror,
lovingly stuck
back together.
i’m retro fashion,
gen z glamour,
i’m sweet, sour, spicy,
and every flavour.
i am the light
of the party,
i am the dark
healing comfort
of therapy.
even if you twitch
when i mention
equality,
even if feminism
threatens your
adherence to patriarchy,
all that i mean
when i celebrate
being free,
is the right
of everyone
to be whoever
they want to be.
without
guilt, fear,
judgement
or shame,
i am just a human—
whatever my
identity, preference,
or name.
because first of all,
i’m a disco ball.

i’m chaos and groove
and gravity,
i am space, time,
and infinity.
i’m a gender, agender,
transgender and enby.
i am the vibe,
i am the party,
i am nobody
and i am everyone.
i’m the brokenness in me
finally having fun.
i’m fractured
and fabulous,
i’m self-respecting,
i’m glamorous.
sometimes i wonder,
is it me or is it the lighting?
then i remember,
either way,
i get to shimmer,
my darling.
i lift other women,
we rise together,
we’re lit.
i don’t compete
with the spotlight—
i multiply it.
because first of all,
i’m a disco ball.