By: Abaigeal Skye

Society's guidebook to being a "successful woman"
Was surely written by men who wanted to be more "successful with women"
For it is graced by the grimy fingerprints
That bound these pages with the soot
Of burned out attempts at seduction.

Look how
She turns her face away from you
As she erodes inward
To escape your invitational glare.

Hear her
Breath as it catches on each prickling remark,
Slowly unravelling from politeness
To annoyance.

Threatened.

Your mother
Must have told you that
We're humans, worthy of respect, of decency,
But
The posters boasting flesh and flesh alone
Invite you,
Condone.

**This is the coward's excuse.