My Inner Workings

Dear Society

Dear society,
How are you doing today?
What do you have in store for me now?
Anything new you'd like to say?
Any more pain you'd like to give?
Any knowledge you'd like to keep?
Any more lips you'd like to shut?
Any more kids you'd like to scare?
Answer me!
If u don't mind my asking,
If it's not considered disrespectful.
Answer me!
And don't you dare claim I am false.

Didn't you tell me to hate my body?
Didn't you tell me to use it?
Didn't you tell me my only goal should be marriage?
Didn't you tell me to be able to cook?
And dare I ask "or else?"
Didn't you tell me to believe you?

Sit properly,
Keep your legs crossed.
Eat properly,
Don't eat too much.
Lose weight,
Grow your hair,
Be appealing,
Wait, not too appealing, don't be a slut.
You're too weird, you're too boring
You're too loud, you're too quiet
You're too fat, you're too slim
Why should I listen?

Why can't I shout as loud as you do?
How come you're the only one with opinions?
How come I can't say what I think
Or I'll disrespect you, disgrace you,
And I can't say what I feel
Or I'll disappoint you, confuse you?
And here you are claiming it's getting better for girls now,
Here you are telling me I should enjoy it.
Here you are saying I have my freedom,
When you keep my brain and my lips enslaved.
You've freed my body, sure.
But how is that enough when you force my brain to tell me to change it.

Trust me, you say,
Mama knows best,
But how come you have everyone brainwashed?
How come you have them chanting out the same slogans?
How come you don't even let them know it?

If I tell them, I'll look crazy,
If I don't, I'll go insane.
If I give in, you'll keep me captive,
If I don't, you'll ruin me.
How is that fair? tell me,
How is that fair to me?
Dear society, why can't you just let me speak?
Dear society, why don't you just let me be?

Sincerely, the girl with a chain on her lips.