Blue Bracelets
Won’t work if the wrists they’re on don’t force the hands –
Won’t work if the mouths on the same bodies won’t speak –
White women – it was you
– and me –
Because in our circles we didn’t talk enough
or act enough
or build enough
or work enough –
We didn’t want to take up space with big ideas –
when fashion, mortgage rates and floor cleaner, pick up lines and crockpot meals-
were more polite topics.
We idled in small talk loudly
While our souls whispered:
We don’t have to worry about this as much as you, our dear sisters.
Our dear sisters of color
Our dear immigrant sisters
Our dear queer sisters
Our dear sisters that need reproductive healthcare
And now –
We won’t speak loudly of privilege
We will hold our tongues and our truth in neat containers
– wary to be “too much”
We will send our private messages to other safe women
exfoliating an outer layer
only when we are sure of mutual beliefs
We won’t stand on soap boxes alone –
But we will wear a blue bracelet together –
– Much too late
- Rachael Coughlin
November 8th, 2024
Rachael Coughlin 