i will fully exist

i may not be your cup
of tea,
and that’s okay;

i’d rather be me
than the watered down
version you’re looking
for who swallowed herself
down for your comfort—

i’m not hiding my
weird, my magic, or
myself any longer;

i will take up space
and step into my power

my anger will loudly roar
when i have been
disrespected—

i have every right to exist
as you do,
i will do so fully
even if you never find the
courage to;

but i hope one day you do
i know hiding hurts.

---

peter pan is no good

wendy darling,
be careful
when you wish for
never-never land;

don’t you know
peter killed the lost
boys and hook is
one of the few able
to escape the immortal
curse of his fangs?

don’t you know
vampires can fly even
without faeries?

that’s why his
shadow always tries
to flee,

guard your brothers;
wendy darling,
peter pan is up to no good.

---

what it is to dream

you tell me
i have scars,
that the past
haunts me;

true, on both counts—

but at least i still
remember what it is
to dream,

and when i reclaimed
myself and refound myself
after you shattered what was
left of me;

i found my magic
and new growth and flowers and
new birds—

i will never thank you
for your unkindness,

but i’m glad
i recovered me
so i can stand in my full
power and shine bright enough
that your nightmares lose their sting.

Linda M. Crate (she/her) is a Pennsylvanian writer whose poetry, short stories, articles, and reviews have been published in a myriad of magazines both online and in print. She has seventeen published chapbooks the latest being: only the future knows (Alien Buddha Press, November 2025).