Arielle Arbushites
what to pack
keys that can thread between fingers
pepper spray small as a prayer
the number of a friend who will answer at midnight
shoes you can run (away) in
cash hidden in three separate places
a charged phone — but —
maps to memorize in case you lose signal
buzz words ready to scream like a flare
the stories of women who never made it home
a doorstop in case you can't trust the locks
courage folded into every pocket like aging armor
fear stitched beneath every seam like second skin
a lie about a husband waiting nearby
the weight of knowing what to pack
Bio
Arielle Arbushites is many things, but above all she is a mother and a licensed social worker who has been a writer all her life. She has mainly published poetry on social platforms and lit mags or journals, but also debuted a short poetry collection in 2024 entitled _cracking at the heels_. Arielle creates custom poetry on the spot for folks searching for human connection and performs spoken word poetry in her local community.