Every time I was denied a seat at the table,
I did not rebel.
I walked away.

Every time I was refused entry into a circle,
I did not protest.
I chose the exit and never looked back.

Every time my potential was downplayed,
I neither relented nor fought for permission.

Instead, I stepped into the fire of self-discovery
and let it burn away everything they said I was,
until it forged the gold they insisted I wasn’t.

When they called me back,
acceptance came with my terms and conditions.

Know your worth.
You are worth it.

*****

[Courtesy of the author]

Link to the Italian translation