Passing along the highway of memory
The bittersweet smell of what is
And what could be
I look at you and I say a prayer
You look at me as if I'm not there

Because I'm a woman I have to cross my legs when I sit
Because I'm a woman I have to stick by my boyfriend
Because I'm a woman I have to keep my mouth shut
Because I'm a woman I have to fear **** shaming
Because I'm a woman I have to keep mace on me
Because I'm a woman I have to look behind me as I walk
Because I'm a woman I have to protect myself or it's my fault

They're just memories now
All tangled up together
Suffocating
To be brought up to the surface
Pushing
To be remembered
Aching
To be felt
Like ghosts
Memories are only phantom pains

The heat in my blood
That runs through my veins
It's in my roots
The pain from a name
The guilt and shame
It's in my roots
Rot and decay sits in the soil
And it's hard to breathe here
It's in my roots
Another trigger, another warning
And something is forming
Beneath the surface, I'm exploding
It's in my roots
I try to hide, mask it
Pretend it's not happening, gaslit
Trying hard to remain
To not go insane
It's in my roots

Stupid stupid
Thirsty boys in my inbox
Keep it in your pants
I haven't even had the chance
To acknowledge your existence
Getting it all twisted
Acting like my emotions
Are yours to call claim to
Dumb boy
Stupid boys
**** boys

Try to silence me,
Drag me down
Try to hurt me,
Punish me
Try to lie to me,
Betray me
Try to slice me up,
Eat me
I will never submit.

Oftentimes,
I have a lot to say
I just can't get it out,
Sometimes