I am female so it is hard to be respected

I am female so it is hard to feel safe

I am female so I am naturally guarded

I am female so I am locked in a cage

I am female so I am built like a soldier

I am female so my voice has been silenced

I am female so I can't  breast feed in public

I am female so I am no stranger to violence

I am female so it is hard to be respected

I am female so my body is public property

I am female so my life is one long  battle

I am female so the odds are against me

if I were you
what would you have done?
would you have shut your mouth?
would you have conformed?
would you have won?

if I were you
would you have been counted
would I have needed to be brave?
would I have chosen to stay the same?
would I have found a reason to stay?

we can ask these questions
until questions no longer exist
either way,
we won't find out the answers
we will never be trading places

Poetess
Hufflepuff
Christian
Coffee addict
She loves like romance is a bad habit

Female
Friend
Wife
Advocate for choice
She plays not to win but to enjoy

Honest
Open
Forever on the outside
Brave
She'll linger in your vision even when she walks away

I am mystified by the selfishness

Confounded by the greed

I am puzzled by single mindedness

Encouraged by privilidge

Propelled by fear

You are mystified that I am still confounded

You are puzzled that I still care

This has been happening for centuries

So you wonder why I still promote peace

You wonder why I am still here