I am a Shapeshifter

I am a shapeshifter. 
Always have been. 
It's a skill I learned
From a young age. 

As a kid I learned the
importance of speaking
My mind, just not in
Front of elders. 

So, I can be as quiet
As a church mouse
And then be able to
Give my opinion
Very decidedly, 
Given the right audience. 

I am a shapeshifter. 
I am able to move
Between the different
Roles that I play
In my life. 

I can go from being the
Therapist with the
Listening ear, 
To being the best friend
That vents and cries
Over voicenotes. 

I am a shapeshifter. 
I can go from being proud
To be black, 
To being tired of being black. 
Because it's tiring to be
Black in this world sometimes. 

I go from being proud
Of being a woman, 
To feeling like I'm being
Punished. 
Because apparently being
A woman is a crime worthy
Of punishment. 

I am a shapeshifter. 
Working hard to be
An independent, 
goal driven woman. 
But wanting to be a
Homemaker so that I
Can have a place and 
people to call my own. 

I am a shapeshifter. 
I can make financially
Sound decisions, and
Then do some emotional 
Shopping the very next day. 

It is tiring work to be
A shapeshifter. 
It is full time employment. 
It requires a lot of resources. 
But after a while, you learn to 
make it seem effortless.

I realise that everyone
Is a shapeshifter, 
In their own right.
Everyone flows from one
State of being to another. 
Sometimes in a matter of seconds.

It is what is needed sometimes.
And at times it can feel like 
different parts of you are at 
war with each other. 
And it can be tiring. 
It can be confusing. 
But it is needed. 


I am an Occupational Therapist by profession, but I have many roles that bring meaning to my life. In short, I love people, books and love.

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