how to survive modern warfare:

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.