Awkward Encounters with a Middle School English Teacher
I look into your face as I describe
The project I put hours into
I paint a picture for you
Of the reaction from my classmates
When I pointed out that there are examples
In our own culture
Of degredation of women
That we generally find
Funny.
Not only funny,
But hilarious.
I look into your reaction
As I create for you
The feeling I felt when
Our talk about Old Spice Commercials
And equal rights
Morphed themselves into
Heated conversations about
Creation
Religion
God
Seperation of Church and State
"You know, I don't really want to live in a society
Where my body is controlled
by some upper-class white guy."
And I can tell I'm making you uncomfortable.
You squirm in your chair
And cease to contribute to the conversation
And I look down at the rough blue carpet
Public Education Taxes have paid for.
I realize that you probably think
I'm some sort of bra burning,
Man hating
Castrating
Feminist.
I can almost see the word swimming in your head
Swimming in a pool of fire
Burning with your learned hatred
For its false connotations.
And I realize
My angry
Freedom Fighter
Attitude
Is borderline offensive to you.
I stop talking.
I change the subject.
I don't want to have to spend the rest of the semester
With this awkward difference in
Opinions
Views
Lifestyles
"How's the cafeteria food today?"
"Fine."