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Saturday, July 30, 2022

WOMAN, WAKING

by Sara Sarna




But Alito’s Italian stand-up routine came at the expense of millions of people’s lived realities in this country right now—many of whom will die because of his unpopular opinion. I personally don’t find it funny at all. —Laura Bassett, Jezebel, July 28, 2022


It was never a matter of balance. 
It was a poorly weighted pendulum  
that sent us scurrying 
between who we needed to be  
and who others needed. 
Sometimes we forgot 
how to choose ourselves, 
put off becoming, 
fell asleep to our value. 
Now you beat your drum 
in celebration of what you claim 
as victory, and it wakes us 
to your arrogance. 
This is one battle. 
We do not fear the war. 


Sara Sarna is a poet, actor and hiker in southeastern Wisconsin. Her work has been published in print and online, and been heard on stage and on the radio. Her chapbook Whispers from a Bench was published in 2019.