I was born female
I am told that this puts me at a disadvantage
I am told that I will make
On average
20% less than a male
I am told that by the time
I am 18
Between me and 3 of my closest girlfriends
At least one of us will have been
sexually assaulted, abused, or *****
And all of us
Will have been sexually harassed
I am told this is a mans world

But I am Woman, hear me roar
And this is my world

I am not my unequal paycheck
I am not an unfair disadvantage
I am not the bruise you left
on my right cheek
I am not a victim

I am Mother of All Things
I am Healer
I am Lover
I am the Moon, and I am Peace

I am Woman, hear me roar
And I am fierce

Do not mistake
My sweetness for weakness
For as the moon
I can shift tides
And move mountains

I am Woman, hear me roar
And this is my world

Why is the world I live in so hard to accept?
The world I grew up in is foreign to me
The only world I've ever known is built on money and commutes to work and waiting for 5 o'clock
Or the weekend
Or your next vacation
Its about paying your dues to the man and then praying that he gives you the time off to attend your sisters wedding
I can't live like this
I can't stomach it like everyone else seems to be able to do
This is not the life I choose for myself
How many tears can you cry before you run out?

You live beside me in my apartment complex
We are only separated by a wall
We are miles apart
Your blinds are drawn
Your TV's on
Does it help drown out the sound
Of the world whizzing by you
The dreams it denied you
Your children not knowing their dad?
What keeps you up at night
Pacing the hallway?
Do you dream of whales and coalmines like I do?
Is your life the way you imagined it would be?
Maybe I'll ask you these things
Next time I pass you on the stairs
And you look away
Then you can go back to your box
And I'll go back to mine
And we'll share a wall
And nothing at all