Teardrops Turned To Words

Told

From the moment a girl is born she is doomed to a life of being told

Told what to do, what not to do

Told when to speak, when not to speak

Told what to say, what not to say

Told how to sit, what to wear, how to look

Told how to act, how to think, who to be

We are born with the curse of being told

Told to be quiet but outspoken and bold

Told to accept 'compliments' that are
actually crude, degrading remarks

Told to cover up our faces with makeup, but be all natural

Told to care more about our looks than our smarts

Told to care more about our smarts than our looks

Told to like 'girly' things but be interested in sports and watch them with boys

Told to wear revealing clothes, but stay reserved

Told to give ourselves freely to boys, but stay untouched

I am a human, I am a female, I am a girl

And if it wasn't apparent I do NOT like being told

Don't tell girls not to climb trees in skirts, teach boys not to look where they aren't supposed to

Don't tell girls they should like revolting and twisted cat calls, teach boys not to say such things

Don't tell girls to give themselves to boys, teach boys that girls are not a prize to be won and that no means no

From the day a girl is born she is stuck with a long list of restrictions, and contradictions

All spoken, and unspoken rules we have to follow

For not ourselves, but to be accepted in society, a man's society

I am a human

I am a female

I am a girl

I am a girl whose eyes burn with the ferocity of a million supernovas

  I am a girl whose mind constantly pulls apart thoughts and ideas, constantly analyzing, rationalizing

I am a girl whose thoughts scream to be heard, to be acknowledged, to be understood

I am a girl who refuses to be told anymore

I am a girl

And I say it's time for the girls to do some teaching

For the boys to do some listening

And for boys to finally understand what it is like to be told