Feminism is
Not the absence of men,
But the abundance
Of women.

Feminism is
Not narcissism,
But self-love
And activism.

Feminism is
Not just political,
It is social
And critical.

Feminism is
Acknowledgement
For all the women
Lacking enfranchisement.

Feminism is
More than equality;
It's a future mindset
For women forthcoming.

Outline my body with your hand.
Do it again.
What do you feel?

Do you feel my heart beating, the one that's been broken more than once?
Do you feel the stitches in my skin where my happiness and weight fluctuate?
Do you feel the bones and joints that have held me together for years?
Do you feel the skin that you take for granted?

Outline my body with your eyes.
Try again.
What do you see?

Do you see the creases around my eyes from laughter?
Do you see the places I grip because I hate them?
Do you see the discoloration in my skin from working beneath the sky?
Do you see my breath move my body, keeping me alive?

Outline my body.
Commit it to memory.
What do you think?

Relax, relax,
You will be okay—
Maybe not us—
But it has to be this way.

Do not forget who you are
Just because I leave.
Do not think that losing me
Erases your identity.

Others will not pale
In comparison.
This is how life works.
You’ll fall in love again.

Right now, yes, it hurts,
But it won’t last for long.
Though I leave you now,
Life moves on.

Yes, I know you loved me,
But I am also aware
That a relationship includes
More than just a pair

Of people who are compatible.
Once a spark is gone,
Interests can’t sustain
A relationship for long.

Please, just breathe,
Simply open your eyes—
Can’t you feel it too?
How are you surprised?

The talks we have
And the time we share
Are not nearly as long.
You didn’t even care

To ask me how I was
Or see if we were good…
You just simply never asked,
And I really thought you would.

But, time changes people,
And that’s why we’re here.
Despite all this time,
It’s time that you hear

The simple, disappointing truth
That we both failed.
Putting each other on a pedestal
Results only in despair.

So, yes, I take some fault,
And you should too.
There is nothing to gain
By denying our own issues.

Look forward to the future
And the people you will meet.
Understand, we had our time,
But it’s time you let your feet

Move you in another direction—
There’s nothing wrong with that!
Learn, understand,
But do not dwell on the past.

So, my dear, it’s the end of an era,
But dry up your tears.
We have no room for hurt
Or loathing here.

I truly wish you good luck,
Blessings and prosperity.
And I leave you with that,
Resulting in the end of things.

I do not want your respect,
Nor do I care for sympathy,
For at this point in time,
All I can muster is apathy.

I do not care if you stand with me,
For all I need is three.
A couple makes an impact,
But a crowd changes history.

I do not want your mockery
Of the truth, of experience, of pride.
I do not care about your status quo
Or what social ladder you had to climb.

So, the black you wear and the words you recite
Are merely the words of someone else,
So though you may think you are standing,
You have no feelings to be felt.

This fight is simply not yours to win,
For light reveals the Truth,
And according to every moral telling,
The bad guys always lose.

I do not want your signs or pins,
For phrases surely die.
Because honestly, we need climbers,
And the only way up is time.

I do not want your petty posts
Filled with rehearsal and practiced lines.
If you really wanted to make an impact,
Stop creating a shadow and donate your light.

I do not want your constant questioning,
For it sounds as though she’s to blame—
Your investigation compares to abuse.
Would you be more understanding if men and women were ranked the same?

I do not want your selfish pity.
I cringe when I hear your apologies.
I am not looking for someone to listen;
I am searching for a stage to speak.

I do not want your worried guilt.
I do not care that you’ve changed,
For penitence is simply up to you,
But right now, you’re saving your name.

I do not want to be your reassurance.
Forgiveness is merely for me.
Though we have been taught by the same book,
Different from yours, my love is free.

I do not want you stopping our progress,
So, out of respect, move out of our way.
Stop opening your mouth and wasting your breath;
There’s something we want to say.

We want equality and acknowledgement too.
We want a changed world and open minds.
We want to finally remove the glass ceiling.
I want a cause for which I can die.