She

She was told to blend in,
to never show off.

“Women should be seen not heard” 
or maybe not seen either;

She was told to be smart, 
but of course, not too smart.
you must not scare them away.

She was told to prioritize
never let a man or a dream 
get in the way.

and especially never stray 
from that stone-clad path leading to;
her agreed future

She was told to be neutral
sugarcoated as flexible, 
Opinionated was a hell-raiser,

Who demolished anything in her way
anything in the way of life,
of living.

She was told that this way was rotten, 
that fire should be put out,

Good thing she was never one to follow rules.