During Queen season we contemplate the themes of her archetypal wisdom.
One of her themes is sovereignty.
Sovereignty means the authority to self-govern, a serious independence, a resistance to outside influence, a personal purity.
Unpollutable.
For example, a “sovereign nation” cannot by taxed by or governed by another nation.
A sovereign person is independent in their thinking and life, unswayed by anyone, the status quo, popular opinion, mainstream, or, like, the patriarchy; unpolluted.
Like testing well water for impurities, I did a “sovereignty audit” on myself.
And I found pollutants — invaders, things I wasn’t born thinking, nor born to think.
I wrote a poem as an effort to banish these pollutants and find my way back to sovereignty.
Sharing it feels vulnerable.
But I’m doing it anyway, because I suspect these “infections” and “infestations” aren’t boring holes into my brain alone.
A Poem for Re-establishing Sovereignty
Comparing and competing, especially with other women
isn’t mine.
Needing to be liked
isn’t mine.
Needing attention
isn’t mine.
“Needing” a relationship
isn’t mine.
Feeling “less” for being single
isn’t mine.
Feeling “less” for not having children
isn’t mine.
Feeling less
isn’t mine.
Hiding because I fear criticism and ridicule
isn’t mine.
Hiding my wattage
isn’t mine
Hiding from or playing to the male gaze
isn’t mine.
Hating my body, especially my belly,
isn’t mine.
Hating aging
isn’t mine.
Hating myself
isn’t mine.
Shame around money
isn’t mine
Shame
isn’t mine
Shame
isn’t mine
— by Katie Vie, 2024
You’re welcome to reprint this poem or read it aloud at a gathering. Just credit me as the writer.
love and sovereignty,
xo
kv
