But I Wanted To
Location
When I talk with boys about things I like
I get laughs
because somewhere between Doctor Who
and the Marvel Universe
it became wrong for a girl to like these things.
A boy I knew from art class informed me that liking
Captain America's actor was not the same
as liking the comic book character
and that because girls had to love boys with abs
that had to be the only reason I liked him.
I shut my mouth and bit my lip
so as to not yell that I knew Steve Rogers
just as well as any other fan and that just because I identify as female
does not make my interests any less than his.
I never said this.
But I wanted to.
My words were my only weapon
My friends stayed silent beside me
the smirk on his face, victorious
as if he hadn't just spat in our faces
and laughed at our expense.
I said none of these things
because I was taught to be quiet
to never yell
and sure as the sun rises in the sky
don't curl your hands into fists and let them fly.
But I wanted to