My dear, 

they will tell you 

you are not enough 

and that

you are too much. 

They will say 

stay in your lane 

don’t be so ridiculous 

sit down. 

They will try to reduce you 

to only your features 

and base your worth 

on the size of your chest 

and the span of your hips, 

then judge you 

for the very traits they seek. 

They will call you 

a face full of make-up, 

a pair of legs, 

a piece of ass, 

crude names meant 

to hold you down 

and keep you from rising 

up 

up 

up 

away from them 

and their opinions. 

 

They will try to tie you down 

and tear you up, 

get you to believe 

the leaded lies 

dripping off their tongues, 

hoping the words turn into cuffs 

around your wrists and ankles and throat 

with chains leading back 

to their waiting hands.