it is too early
for feelings of
violence
be quick to forgive
quicker to turn a blind eye
i woke up one day
to mens eyes
that met in between my shoulders
before my eyes
letting my skin crawl because
I am a flower
not a venomous snake
smile bigger
do not fight it will only make things harder
instead take extra showers
maybe today the soap will wash out
that feeling of dread
that you are trapped inside
a body
made of curves that hug
almost as close
as his hands around my shoulders
in the 7th grade
don't say anything
laugh instead of cry
it was a joke
don't be so sensitive
when they say whore
be ashamed
when they say slut
cover up
push yourself into submission
this is how you survive
hold your keys between your knuckles
check your back seat
lock your doors
what were you wearing
you shouldn't have walked home alone
well I mean you were flirting with him
what did you expect?
i wish i could crawl from my skin and into the ground
for every moment
that you have been afraid
for every instance
where your stomach has bursts into flames
and you've wanted to use
that 9th grade self defense class
do not look away
do not move to the side
do not smile or laugh
do not be sad when they no longer call you
cute or beautiful
and instead use words invented to make you feel small
they will be thrown in a panic
you were made to be dangerous
with hips and shoulders
made to cut and distract
from what you have learned
remember their eyes
remember their hands
flip your hair
bat your lashes
smile with your mouth closed
and laugh with your head thrown back
until you have learned how to run
where to twist to make it hurt
how to scream fire
instead of help
and then fight for every woman
who has died trying.
for feelings of
violence
be quick to forgive
quicker to turn a blind eye
i woke up one day
to mens eyes
that met in between my shoulders
before my eyes
letting my skin crawl because
I am a flower
not a venomous snake
smile bigger
do not fight it will only make things harder
instead take extra showers
maybe today the soap will wash out
that feeling of dread
that you are trapped inside
a body
made of curves that hug
almost as close
as his hands around my shoulders
in the 7th grade
don't say anything
laugh instead of cry
it was a joke
don't be so sensitive
when they say whore
be ashamed
when they say slut
cover up
push yourself into submission
this is how you survive
hold your keys between your knuckles
check your back seat
lock your doors
what were you wearing
you shouldn't have walked home alone
well I mean you were flirting with him
what did you expect?
i wish i could crawl from my skin and into the ground
for every moment
that you have been afraid
for every instance
where your stomach has bursts into flames
and you've wanted to use
that 9th grade self defense class
do not look away
do not move to the side
do not smile or laugh
do not be sad when they no longer call you
cute or beautiful
and instead use words invented to make you feel small
they will be thrown in a panic
you were made to be dangerous
with hips and shoulders
made to cut and distract
from what you have learned
remember their eyes
remember their hands
flip your hair
bat your lashes
smile with your mouth closed
and laugh with your head thrown back
until you have learned how to run
where to twist to make it hurt
how to scream fire
instead of help
and then fight for every woman
who has died trying.
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