Poetry

Tigress

I accept the mess,

The bitter soldiers inside of me have surrendered.

The white flag has been raised,

And the doves are released. 

After thrashing and fighting 

With the invader — a tigress who seems to have moved into my head—

I have surrendered my weapons.

Let her growl,

Let her claw all that which I hold sacred

I take off my armor as I let her muddy my plans with sweet abandon—- she lives in joy.

And even in spite of her recklessness,

I have decided to find the beauty in her

I have decided not only to stop hating her, but to befriend her — as she chews on every one of my possessions, shredding them with sharp teeth. 

We are roommates now.

We are kin. 

-Gena Cohen

(Written over a cup of coffee on 02/02/2025)