when I was young
I was always told to be respectful
so when a man with a bristly beard rubbed up close to my face
I learned to laugh it off
and call him uncle
when he was no relation to me
he'd act like my body belonged to him
and kiss me on the forehead
i'd squirm
my teeth would grit and I would break into a cold sweat
and i'd laugh along

now I see a man with a bristly beard
on the train on the way home
who calls me darling and says i'm the prettiest girl he's ever seen
a chill runs up my spine
so scared that his bear hands will grab onto me
and drag me away
my teeth grit and I break into a cold sweat

I say thanks while holding back panicked tears and get off at the next station and hope to god he doesn't follow me off