If She's Smart

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If the moon is higher than the trees
If she can't see the stars because of the traffic lights
If she's smart
She'll be ready, keys in hand, 
poking through the gaps in her fingers like claws.
Her senses will heighten
Her hearing will peak
Every footstep a follower
Each echo a distraction
She'll take the brightest route to her home
Making sure to bask in the wilted golden light of a street lamp
Before she moves on to the next
She'll become self conscious
Blend into the night
Become the dark that she so very fears
So that she will not be noticed
 
Because being noticed
Is an ultimatum.
Being noticed
Means she will be blamed
For not taking enough precaution
Even though she has armoured herself with fists of keys,
And watched her drink for hours.
Just so little as being noticed
Means she will lose her dignity
In more ways than one.
 
If the moon is higher than the trees,
If she can't see the stars because of the traffic lights,
If she's smart
 
She will still never be ready.
 

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