Woman

Woman; Dare not dream
All the things you could do.
Might colour the world
And blind their greyscale eyes.

Woman; Dare not laugh
It might be taken for confidence
And make bitter,
their brittle bones.

Woman; Dare not dance
Your shoes may kick up sparks
And the embers sear into
their still shins.

Woman; Dare not think
Your thoughts may be new
Your brilliance may intimidate
Their narrow minds

Woman; Dare not run
Your fear
May remind them of themselves
And thicken their hearts with hate.

Woman; dare not falter
They are watching
Waiting.
The relief settles their dry throats.

Woman; Dare not cry
Your tears run rivers of weakness
That brings power to their hands.

Woman; Dare not quiet

Your eyes won’t see in colour.
Your bones will brittle,
And your shins will still.
Your mind will narrow.
Your heart will thicken,
And your throat will choke.
Your hands. Defeated.
Will hang by your sides.

No.

Woman; Dare.