Don’t Cry for Me by Valerie Parente
My innocence was bid
once I had unwanted thoughts
so don’t you dare patronize me
with a sign of a cross.
You beg for my forgiveness
from the very same God
that gave me my condition
when I didn’t ask to be flawed.
I make my own power
in the way that I respond
that is in my control
and your control of me is lost.
– Valerie Parente (12-22-2023)
Succubus by Valerie Parente
Milky eyes rolled
in the back of her head
they accuse the succubus
of stealing dreams from the men.
She’s only as good
as when they want to be around her
as if her morality
is tied to their arousal.
He can touch her
but she can’t touch him
just like she can lose her value
but he can only win.
Her pleasure, her lust,
a malevolence in itself
while he’s in high heaven
she’s going straight to hell.
They call her a succubus
because she likes to be exposed
that’s why they justify
putting a knife to her throat.
But they don’t know
she’ll stroke the knife with her tongue
because she taught herself
to like the taste of blood.
SALVATION (A Mask) by Valerie Parente
Saving lives
and ruining lives
are two very different things
but often the ones who promise salvation
are the ones that follow it with condemnation
and it is this very intolerance
that muddies all common sense.
They say they want to help
by creating a concept of hell
but they don’t really want to save your soul
they just want power and control.
True salvation doesn’t come from a hierarchy or rules
true salvation comes from acceptance with the truth
and the truth is there’s something within
that makes you ever so resilient.
– Valerie Parente (7-15-2022)
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