Sunday, November 27, 2016

Lizz Murphy - Poem 332: Woman in a man's world (found poetry) Nod to Susan Hawthorne


Nod to Susan Hawthorne #77 How do you protect yourself from rape?

WOMAN IN A MAN’S WORLD

dagger-like
bright pink
self-defence ring
comfortable,

unthinkable
weapon

vigilance
routine
Rape alarms.
Pepper spray

step up,
pay the price

extra precautions
every day,
crossing the street,
doubling back,
avoiding
clenching fists,
walking faster
countless others
instinctively.

It still doesn’t stop
harassed, assaulted raped.

new data
shocking
every day
behaviour
plans
peace



2 comments:

  1. remembering Louise Bogan's poem WOMEN... last stanzas

    They wait, when they should turn to journeys,
    They stiffen, when they should bend.
    They use against themselves that benevolence
    To which no man is friend.

    They hear in every whisper that speaks to them
    A shout and a cry.
    As like as not, when they take life over their door-sills
    They should let it go by.

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