Different & the Same

There is something about anonymity that holds so much allure 

Like the fact that you can be who you are and no one will know 

Which kind of means that whatever criticisms come to surface will simply linger for a short while

With out a face or body to adhere, they simply dissipate after time 

So when writing with a nom de plume of which nothing is known 

There may be less of a vulnerably aspect 

As the person sharing the deepest insights of the soul is simply words imagined to a being 

I like that because in sharing such personal stories one can only wonder 

‘How does this person know?…who told them my story?’

But it’s because as different as we are

Humans hold so many similarities that bring us together 

Almost like a garden of different flowers

Each emitting an individual scent yet all experience the pollination process from bees 

Which makes us not so different from on another after all… 

-Bionica

Because we ALL matter

I was talking to my friend earlier and she mentioned the stress felt by the civil unrest that is currently going on 

She is friends with a lot of brothers in blue and went on to say that all lives matter 

And I just couldn’t let it go 

Because of the simple truth that all lives matter, activists have come together to make sure this is more than words on paper 

Because all lives matter, we need to ensure that justice is also brought forth against the injustices committed against black people 

If Breonna Taylor were white, you better believe that the people who took her life would have been brought to justice 

It’s a human right that all people deserve and yet in 2020 people of color are denied this for some reason 

And it is exhausting to still have to explain that yes I am a woman, I am black and I am human

This should never be an issue 

But it is 

I’m so over this 

We are all human and should be treated justly 

Money, titles, politics and color should not be an issue

Why have so many people been shot at and lost their life for doing nothing while being black?

Because the justice system simply sees color 

Because the justice system gives privilege in looking the other way when it comes to crimes committed against people of color 

It’s about our human rights 

If it were white kids locked up in cages there would be a huge riot about child abuse 

But these kids have color so no one says anything 

Because all lives matter the same justice that supports white lives should support all lives and bring it all to light 

It’s not about favoritism 

It’s about being human 

It’s about educating yourself about what’s right 

My friend didn’t even know about Breonna Taylor 

No, she doesn’t live under a rock but she didn’t know 

Perhaps because the news outlets don’t give enough coverage about the injustices being done 

Except when it’s a riot and then you can’t look away 

The point of the protests was to bring forth justice ignited by George Floyd 

They were meant to change the world for the better because we all matter

Instead people felt pressure and did what they thought was justice for one man 

When so many other people of color need justice too 

It’s not about having a protest for each black person that has been wronged 

It’s about changing things so that the same measure of justice that is applied to a white person may also be applied to people of color because we all matter 

If there were stricter laws in regards to applying force and the regard for life, Elijah McClain would still be playing the violin to animals at a shelter 

Because anyone with an ‘issue’, that is armed would think twice before harming anyone including a person of color because the eyes of justice would be covered as she is rightfully represented in mythology as we all deserve justice regardless of what we look like  

In 2020 I had to explain to my friend that this is an actual thing 

I told her that as a black woman and she cut me off saying that I’m beautiful and that right there is part of the problem 

Latinos are just as guilty of this systemic racism

By my friend mentioning beauty it’s almost to counteract my being black when being bonita o fea has nothing to do with the conversation 

We need to teach people all over that skin difference in skin color is just that-difference of skin color 

It doesn’t make anyone more or less human because we are all the same

Those adjectives that follow morena pero… need to stop because they aren’t making things any better 

Latinos need to come face to face with the fact that yes you’re black, you’re indigenous and probably white but that’s the magic that makes you who are 

It’s not something to feel shame for because when it is things get complicated like it’s down to choosing sides of who you want to be with 

And humanity should never come to that 

Vanilla and Chocolate are just as delicious together as they are individually 

Never make anyone choose because flavor is flavor and it’s all fantastic 

Bionica

To Learn

They say that every situation is meant to teach us something 

And so she began to wonder what it was that she was meant to learn 

From the person that made a constant effort to bring her down 

Her therapist told her it was domestic abuse–clearly

Yet she never saw it like so until someone else pointed it out 

And when she saw it for what it was her eyes opened to so many things 

One of them being the fact that just because something has been a generational pattern, it doesn’t mean that it’s right 

It doesn’t mean that she has to stay there and take the punches waiting to get hurt 

It also made her realize that she might be the only one seeing things for what they were 

That saying about standing for what you believe in even if it means standing alone 

It hit her hard like a baseball hits a fan in looking down at their phone knocking it out of their hand during a game, shocking them at the same time 

The main reason for this is because she really thought that others would see the abuse she was being put through 

Instead it was accredited to circumstances that came with a million and one excuses 

But that still didn’t make it right because putting a bandaid on a wound that needs stitches will do very little to make it better 

She was just seen as the odd one

The one that was making things difficult for her abuser 

And so she realized then that the black sheep in the family is a thing 

A real thing that occurs perhaps when someone brings something to light that others prefer to keep in the shadows 

But not her, she’s all about the light and making sure that the sun’s rays reach every nook and cranny 

That’s when the words of her therapist came in really loud like a gong at a temple early in the morning 

‘What are you going to do? Are you going to stay or are you going to leave?’

A difficult situation because she understood that if she left, it was very likely that she would leave everyone else behind 

Because at this point in time she stood alone and although she wasn’t lonely she was hurt that no one else was able to see what she saw 

She was hurt that so many were in agreement with her oppressor 

But maybe that’s what she was meant to learn 

That some people will hurt you and not care that they do 

That some people will never look inside and see why they do what they do 

That some people will constantly sweep things under the rug and walk over it like a mountain just the way Bart did once on the Simpsons 

Because for some it’s just easier to not see 

And as this happens, she knows that it’s her turn to go 

To be black sheep that’s happy to wander the meadow with peace of mind 

Not worrying about the ones she left behind.. 

Bionica

The Woman

There is a global pandemic and all around the world people are asked to stay home unless they have to go out 

I’m a mother of 3 amazing fur babies so our poop walks are a major must 

Because when nature calls, we gotta answer

Yet living with a mother of humans I see how these things don’t seem to apply to her as she went out in search for a beauty supply that would be open and provide her with some extravagant hair at a value price

After finding out that none were open she went on to wash her hair at home but happily complied when her hair dresser told her she could stop by if need be as no one else would be in the salon 

The thing is that no one really needs to be out in the salon but I understand that this woman works doing hair to make a living so I understand her fear to run out of money and braveness to venture out with out need–no, not really–lady should just stay home and tell the person she rents from that it’s a global thing and everything is on pause 

But before receiving this call the woman thought about doing her hair in the garage and calling the braid lady who works for Instacart and is constantly outside and of which little is know about her hygiene at times such as a pandemic 

Then she went out to see her brother to pick up some food amid Easter preparations along with some protective face masks that were kindly accepted

Yet still this has nothing to do with an actual need per say…

Oh and this woman was quite audacious in welcoming her boyfriend home to spend the night as well while he may or may not quarantine at home 

Up until now, hand washing was not a ‘thing’ for a lot of people and it still isn’t 

They just use gloves and think that makes a different 

Well um no, it’s the same thing except that the germs are not directly on your skin but if you touch your face with gloves, well that still counts as germs to the face-but ok 

Another occasion came and the woman went out again to pick up some birthday cake and stew amid a quiet celebration that must be kept indoors due to the virus 

At which moment I assisted trying to be nice after speaking to said woman’s brother who indicated that someone must go to hold down the stew that had no lid 

Literally no lid although such could be a great title to be used at a later moment… 

And as I arrived I felt bombarded with hypocritical words as I heard the brother talk about the seriousness of the current world matter of which I am very much aware being that I read and write about it daily 

However this is coming from a man that went out to by non essential balloons for a daughter that turned 16-my man could have drawn them on her door with washable chalk with out having to go out

There was also a cake purchased which was not baked at home when it could have been done to avoid unnecessary travel 

Yet I am criticized for taking my fur babies out for their very necessary walks at which time I also feel a literal breath of fresh air taking in the sun and it’s rays and when it’s raining and we’re on the walk I still have to do it because they still have to ‘go’ 

The woman goes on to talk about how I don’t wear gloves when I use sanitizer constantly if I’m out on a necessary run to the grocery store to make sure my levels are up like Super Mario when he gets the red ‘shroom 

But somehow the woman attacks me for this 

I feels as if I am at court trying to state my case against a jury that is out to contradict me just because 

Without caring to hear my plea and actually listen to my reason I am told by the woman that I am disrespectful and ungrateful 

Because as sad as it is to admit, any sort of disagreement is seen as such to the woman 

And not as a conversation with an adult that cares to defend herself when she feels bombarded left and right 

I guess the woman just sees one thing to be true and that is whatever she says… 

Bionica 

Club No More

In all honesty, she couldn’t remember the last time she had gone to a club 

At least not voluntarily wanting to shake her groove thang 

With a group of people bumping in to her, spilling drinks everywhere 

And the incessant pump of the bass from the speakers 

That would just cause the ice in drinks to rattle against the glass

She was totally over that 

But being in need for some extra cash 

She dove back in

Not to take on the role of a fabulous bottle girl 

But play police officer and make sure 

That those who wanted to party paid up before stepping in 

And she just couldn’t believe it 

The party kids inside ranged from 18 with a possible fake id 

To 22 and that was pushing it 

But there were a few older men who were just weird 

For crashing this childrens party 

But what really got to her was the conversations she heard

What did these young girls know about serious relationships 

When they were barely out of high school 

Talking about certain matters with a sense of pride 

As if that’s what made the grown ups 

And so she wondered if that was her a few years ago 

But probably not 

Because generations have changed 

As have social standards of communication 

Now it’s all about the gram and looking good for the camera 

Once upon a time, it was more about enjoying the moment 

And hoping you were able to take a few pictures with your point & shoot 

So that you can laugh at the proof of what happened 

But times, they are a changing 

And yes she will probably say the same 

It makes for good stores 

And good laughs 

About how she at times feels like everyone’s mother 

Or really just happens to act like it…

-Bionica