SWALLOW
When I come in your mouth,
it tastes so bittersweet in my cunt.
My belly heaves, my heart soars.
I crave more
of your cold fingers and salty lips,
my aching breasts
thawed by your heavy breath.
Our eager tongues ensnare the flesh,
relishing in sour sweat
as I clench my thighs around
your warmth,
your sound,
your depth.
- شاهانی
— كتاب ألف ليلة وليلة
[The Story of the Two Viziers,
Nur al-Din Ali al-Misri and Badr al-Din Hasan al-Basri]
Translated by Husain Haddawy.
كتاب ألف ليلة وليلة
[THE TALE OF THE ENVIOUS AND THE ENVIED]There is no writer who from death will flee,
But what his hand has written time will keep.
Commit to paper nothing then, except
What you would like on Judgment Day to see.
When the events of life our love condemned
And painful separation was our end,
We turned to the inkwell’s mouth to complain,
And voiced with the pen’s tongue our parting’s pain.
Gloom sleeps in my bed,
in my room, in my head.
Procrastination
outweighs my need for validation;
it’s only wrong when I feel guilty.
You can’t measure my pain,
you’ll only go insane.
Yet, you weigh the sincerity
of my smile.
It’s been a while.
Though I’m still breathing, aren’t I?
I feel free, but I
feel empty.
- شاهانی
— Maya Angelou
- Forgiving (Alcoholic) Parents: Breaking the Chain of Anger, Resentment, and Pain -
If you are healing from sexual assault and you get out of bed in the morning,
You are doing well.
If you are healing from sexual assault and you hold down a job,
You are amazing.
If you are healing from sexual assault and and you are still remotely pleasant to others,
You are a lot nicer than me.
If you are healing from sexual assault and you cannot always be there for a friend,
You are still a good friend and a strong enough person to know what is best for you.
If you are healing from sexual assault and find it difficult to care for yourself but still find the strength to care and love your family,
You are strong as well.
If you are healing from sexual assault and you decide to tell your story,
You are brave.
If you are healing from sexual assault and you decide that you are not ready to tell your story,
You are also brave.
If you are healing from sexual assault and you cry daily or have nightmares,
You are normal.
If you are healing from sexual assault and seeing happy, healthy people makes you sad, angry, jealous and worse,
Join the club.
If you are healing from sexual assault and you decide to press charges against your perpetrator,
You have incredible courage.
If you are healing from sexual assault and you cannot or choose not to press charges against your perpetrator,
Your perpetrator is still the one to blame and you are smart for knowing what you can handle.
If you are healing from sexual assault and think that what happened was your fault,
You are wrong, but you are not alone.
If you are healing from sexual assault and are jealous that some survivors put their abuser in jail,
You are one of many.
If you are healing from sexual assault and were not believed or supported when you found the courage to tell,
You still deserve to be heard, no matter how long ago it was.
If you are healing from sexual assault and you feel like you hate your body,
Remember your spirit is held within your body.
If you are healing from sexual assault and feel painfully alone and isolated,
Please know that there are thousands of people healing with you in spirit.
If you are healing from sexual assault and there are days where the only thing you are able to do is exist,
Remember: We are existing with you till you can live again.
If you are healing from sexual assault but still looking to the future,
You are a survivor.
(via wolf-of-death-valley)
