Trapped
And caged
Oppressed
And beaten down
No and no
And no and no
Everywhere you turn
I frown
I won't be submissive
I won't say
"Okay, Mother."
I will not nod
Nor let my shoulders slump
I will ask questions
I will dissect your reasons
I will find out why
You don't let me do
Certain things
That are harmless
Why I couldn't
Cut my hair
Unless it was
A birthday present
Why I wasn't allowed
To get an email
Or text or call
My friends
Why I wasn't
Allowed to go anywhere
That wasn't school
Or with you
But I will speak up
And I will raise
My voice
I will stand tall
And still my
Trembling legs
And I will look you
In the eye
And ask plainly
"Why?"
I will not accept
Age old traditions
That have belittled me
Silenced me
And cut me away
From my hopes and dreams
I will not smile and nod
When it has caused me
Many tearful nights
I will not
I will not
I will fight
I will speak
But battles
Can last longer
Than others
And sometimes I need
To wait it out
Wait a few more years
Wait and wait and wait
Like I've been doing
For what seems like forever
But I can do it
For a little while longer
Dear myself
Just wait a little longer
Just a few more years
Wait just a bit more
My sorrowful dear.
YOU ARE READING
Chromatic Musings
PoetryA series of free-style reflective poems. Note: All are personal and may not apply to all readers.
