Presents..."Paths" By Nicole Chavers

"i walk alone
conscious of the paths that bore me
generations of women who left me too soon
left without giving me the directions of what steps to follow
or which ones to avoid
still putting together my journey
in the shadows of their legacy
via hopes, chances and trials.
i stand on sketchy memories
passed down from stories and conclusions.
i walk alone.
i walk alone in the footprints of
husbandless wives
alcoholic vices
suicide
self-medicating
ingenious
stern
handy
devoted
warrior
beautiful
emotional
mothers
partners
daughters
women who were repeated survivors.
and even when i divert from their patterned steps
i breathe their legacy
pieces of them given life through me
i live in the shadows of my history.
emotional living
birthing creative spirit
emotional living
living through years of silent suffering
emotional living
living.
years of sorrow
tears
silent
internal death
has resurrected me into something different
but still very much connected to these women who came before me
resurrecting myself
to finally be born into peace with the life i have been given."