A Letter to the Substitute

Location

73110
United States
35° 27' 32.3172" N, 97° 24' 20.4948" W

How can you see
through the fog and the lies
that surround your scarf
You told one student he was going to Hell
and another she was not feminine enough
you told me that women have it easy
just get married, you insist
all problems disappear like the value of progress
in your hating mind
We marched
chanted
picketed
went on strike
Yet the law
as well as popular opinion
tells me we lost
Every tear shed
every speech given
every metaphorical bra burned
every literal life lost
Reduced to smoke in the course of a conversation.
"Feminazi!"
"Man-hater!"
I did not ask your opinion.
Keep away,
voice of yesterday,
I lift my soul to tomorrow,
and hope the work of the past will stick

Comments

Additional Resources

Get AI Feedback on your poem

Interested in feedback on your poem? Try our AI Feedback tool.
 

 

If You Need Support

If you ever need help or support, we trust CrisisTextline.org for people dealing with depression. Text HOME to 741741