What You Will Learn

You will learn it from a young age- That there is a scale and you Sit upon it. It is not your choice It never was. Even back then when Your mother told you You don’t look pretty with your hair tucked Behind your ears, She was trying to push you up it One more Little notch. You will learn that it does not matter what you dream about So long as it is not him That it does not matter what scars you inherit From your ancestors Only what percentages you carry And where you carry them, Latino lips, African ass, Do you **** like the gypsies you come from? You will learn it does not matter what struggles you face How hard it was to drag yourself Out of bed this morning How exhausted you feel- You are worthless Unless you can stay awake whilst he screws you. You will learn that sleep won’t stop him. You will learn that ‘I will wait until you are ready’ Has a time limit. You will learn that your words will get you into trouble That he’ll love you better If you use your lips For what they’re made for, You will learn that your worth will be measured In how many inches You can take. You will learn to fear Birthing a girl Learn to fear your hand slapping At her hands As she bites her nails Stay pretty Up the scale And she will learn to love boys Who love the way she moves her hips, She’ll learn that last names don’t matter And school grades don’t matter And poetry doesn’t matter. She’ll learn that she’s just one of those girls Guys want to sleep with And that that Is okay.