You have trampled over my tattered soul.

You have carved a cut so deep,

I cannot purge it from my soul.

Your words echo through my mind,

Constantly resonating and reminding me of what I am not.

I am not a man.

Therefore I will need to “cover up my body.”

Therefore I will “shut up when a man is talking.”

Therefore I am “worthless.”

I am not a man.

But I am a human being, no less.

My value is not less than that of a man.

But I will never be “enough.”

Never strong enough, never smart enough.

But what is “enough?”

Having “enough” of what?

Brute strength? Physical stature?

I will never be able to obtain this,

No matter how hard I work.

But, I will not give up.

Nothing is ever “enough.”

The pursuit of knowledge is limitless.

The imagination is bountiful and vast.

Your words have hurt me.

Your actions have belittled me.

You have to bend your knees to see me at eye level.

And even when you do, you do not make eye contact.

You look down on me.

You look down on my capabilities.

But I am capable.

I am capable because of my determination.

My gender does not hinder my capabilities.

In fact, my gender motivates me to work harder.

Step aside,

For it is my time to shine.

For once,

It is time I stand above your shoulders,

And look down on you, because

You are not a woman.