When The Emperor Wakes

Five poems about finding self-mastery.

Welcome back, and a warm hello to the newcomers.

This week’s post is the latest in my series focusing on the major arcana cards of the tarot. You can find earlier posts below:

The Empress Interviews a Child

The Trial of The High Priestess

The Magician's List

The Fool Gathers Supplies for The Magician

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The Emperor is all about personal power. When this card comes up, it’s time to consider previous experience, remain open to learning new information, and look for the structures underneath. Read on for five poems examining some of the different ways I feel powerful, and please share what makes you feel badass in the comments!

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Where The Moon Lives

When you are a starless night,

Remember I am the Moon. 

I snatch Sun’s warmth

And fling it into you.

It does not matter

If you feel worthy,

The light finds your skin, regardless.

Uncooperative and loving,

A purifying poultice on your chest,

A round, protective robin’s nest,

A pile of pine needles,

High and deep,

When you grow tired in the forest. 

Starless, startled night,

The Moon is nestled inside you,

You have already passed

Every single test.

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Something I Learned In Therapy

Feelings last

For about

Fifteen (or

So) minutes.

You can be

Strong enough

For that long,

I promise.

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Bread Baker

Calluses across

The meaty parts of my palms,

Burns on my biceps.

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Freestyle: 2/17/24, 2:40pm

I can’t stop winning,

I can’t stop Catholic-school-sinning.

Gave up my pain for Lent,

Never picked it back up,

It was too broken,

Too bent.

I left it on the side of the road,

Walked away grinning,

Not one bit of regret.

Now the lack I was feeling

Is replaced with a backbone of steel,

I’m so steady,

Keeping such an even keel,

I’m so ready,

Keeping it so real,

Gratuity included, no tip necessary,

I’m at the place where the tide meets the stream,

The estuary.

Nothing could have prepared me,

I wouldn’t have done it if you dared me,

But life made me grow up,

Now nothing can scare me. 

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Plump

I’m plump on purpose.

I’m curvy, I deserve it.

I’m the dessert, bitch.

Thank you for joining!

One more treat for reading to the end: a sneak peek at my latest single, “Slow Trees,” before it hits streaming services. Think slow dancing in a forest. (Best with headphones.)

I hope you like it!

All my best,