Justified Injustice // Poetry Series

I Come From

I come from an easy life,

Lack of hardship,

Lack of labour,

Food waiting on the table,

Teachers waiting in the classroom.

I come from not having to fight,

For my freedom, for my rights.

But I come from “boys will be boys”

And “don’t go out alone”

I come from keys poised between fingers.

I come from fear.

I come from believing

I must be perfect, complacent

Never outspoken, never bossy,

“You run like a girl!”

And “don’t be a p*ssy!”

I come from a world

Where my gender dictates

What I can do,

And more importantly what I cannot.

Be the princess

You cannot save yourself.

That’s for the prince.

Unfunny jokes,

Where I belong in the kitchen

And “you can’t wear that”

Why should I not do

What my brothers can?

Why must I always be the lady

To forget how to look after myself?

I come from anger.

I come from overprotection.

I come from a man’s world.

I come from fear, fear, fear.