She

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

“Women should be seen and 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 this way was rotten, 
that this fire should be put out.

Good thing she was never one to follow rules.