Beyond the Lights of Bourbon Street

For three decades, I danced on Bourbon Street,
Before the crowds, my spirit laid bare,
Millions saw me, barely clothed,
In Big Daddy's G-string, there I found my beat.
Every day, I bared more than skin;
My soul, my heart, wide open and free
My zen, my sacred dance of defiance,
In the glow of neon lights, my spirit spun.
Yet, they judged my body, not the essence within,
Saw my face, ignored the grace of my art,
To them, just a figure on display,
Never seeing the depths, or the strength of my heart.
But I am more than what the eye perceives,
More than the curves and smiles they appraise.
Through poetry, through every crafted line,
I reveal the woman beyond the stage.
My heart's rhythm, my soul's gentle might,
Now channeled into art, into every word I write.
With each poem, each piece I create,
I open the gates to my inner state.
The rhythm of my spirit sings a powerful song,
If you look closely, you'll see…you were wrong.
I’ve always been strong, resolute and long,
A soul complete, in magic strong.
No longer merely a dancer under neon lights,
But a storyteller, a poet, my words taking flight.
Expressing truths with each line I pen,
Finding peace within, I rise again.
Embrace this magic, see the zen unfold,
I stand revealed, a story told.
A powerful woman, on a journey bold,
The same yet new, a truth retold.
Look closely, and truly you will see,
The essence of who I am, who I'm meant to be.
Embracing my magic, finding zen within,
A powerful woman's journey…..let it begin.