Draft Folder

Draft Folder, listed in the dozens.

Clicking through, arrow hovering over SEND

Reading each before mail off.

To my first manager

In that close minded small town

Fck you for all the times you said

YoU’d LoOK CuTEr in A dREss

At every monthly meeting

Feeling comfy in baggy jeans.

To the corporate sales manager

At my first “real” job 

Fck you for blaming fluctuation in sales on

TOo MuCH MaKE-Up, YeT NOt EnoUGH

At every promotional performance review.

Sitting in a scratchy suit I couldn't afford.

To the resource director

Over that work-study program 

Fck you for the encouragement to

WeAR YOur HaIR LiKE ThAT MoRE OftEN

Curls slicked back in a bun

Hiding the indigeneity weaved into my braids.

To the research coordinator

At that educational institution

Fck you for the feedback to

WoRK On thAT AcCenT

For easier transcribing in a whyte room,

Erasing the sounds of my cultura.

To the master teacher

From that overpriced Preschool

Fck you for the low score on the

InAppRopRiate ThAnKsGiVIng LeSSon PLan,

Depriving youth of truth and facts, ignoring 

Gender Inclusivity and Cultural Relevance

To the academic director

Me the second in command

Fck you for forcing binary professionalism

DrESs SUits AnD Heels AS the OnLY DrEss CoDE

Shaming pant suits and shined shoes,

Dripping in the fluidity of occasional masculinity.

To the clinical supervisor

Dreading I become their boss someday

Fck you for suggesting indigenous practices

ArEN’t VaLID MeNTal HeALth APProaCHES

Referring articles by cishet whyte men,

Ghosting the healing powers of my ancestors.

Starting a new draft

To all the future supervisors

Checking their biases and isms

Before leading the next generation

Leaving all the drafts behind again for Feb 30th.

-Sueitko Zamorano Chavez