I am

A woman

Belittled

Degraded

Insignificant

The consequences of my

Gender

 

I watch white

wealthy

middle-aged

men

in stiff suits

pick and chose

my future

my healthcare

my coverage

my rights

 

I watch my niece

Growing tall and empowered

Become squandered

Under the pressures

Of a society she is forced

To accept

 

I see her

Told to be careful

In the streets

In the night

When she is alone

 

I watch my little cousin

Handed a football

And told to run

Over everything in his path

He is never told

The warnings of the night

Of the big strong men

Who hurt girls like us

 

He is never told

Not to belittle

Not to hurt

Not to rape

 

I watch my television

Watch the most ignorant

Man of all

Confess to assault

And dismiss it

As locker room

Talk

I watch him belittle

Us

Degrade

Us

Make us feel

Insignificant

And unworthy

His election to office

Has awakened a fire

In my soul

Unlike any other

I grow more

And more

Furious with his idea

That he is our only hope

Our only way out of the swamp

 

It seems so ironic

the alligator

With his sharp teeth

Would try to lure in

A woman

Like me