listen

10 June 2009

listen

 

the jokes about my degree

and dedication of my life

are no longer funny or witty

or helpful for this world.

 

this is why.

 

all the women i know have been raped

and by who?

MEN

yah, that’s you,

you’re responsible.

what’s that?  you say is wasn’t you?

well, it was, it is, by the passivity of

your life and

the lack of standing in the streets

SCREAMING,

CRYING, DEMANDING

that we live differently

that your fellow men

STOP RAPING WOMEN

 

that the streets at night be safe

and not scary

that dance floors are for movement

and not places of gropping

and preying

that our pay rolls are the same

and our responsibility for family

planning are shared.

 

because each month I pay

X amount for tampons

X amount for birth control pills

X amount for condoms

and

X amount of my spirit to

have sex with you and try to block

out the times when my

body has been taken by others

 

and then, you go and say

this feels so good

and you’re going to cum

and then you talk to guys

about us

as hot, foxy, something you want to bang

something that has to look one way

for your attention

 

and yet still, you joke about my role

in this world

and my degree and

you don’t even have to think about it.

ever.

 

but, i’m not going to be bitter.

 

i’m going to be FREE.