Monsters of the Patriarchy

The monsters are real

you won’t find them

lurking

they’re working

all day

everyday

waiting

in the shadows of doubt and self-loathing

oh but they are

they’re loud and proud

screaming from every corner

every window

every floor of government

never giving up position

society bowing to their mission

because they’ve always been there

always will be

leading us

and bleeding us

there’s no monster ‘neath my bed

but lying there at night

hoping that I locked my door

thinking bout a perfect life

that I will never have

cause I’m no one’s perfect girl

society has told me

since I was born

to like pink

to play with dolls

never get my hands dirty

but then I saw

how much fun it is

to dress your doll in pink

and slather it with war paint

make my face match

the mud drying to my cheeks

telling me

“you are strong”

the monsters in my closet

uniforms of society

pretty dresses

the chains of patriarchy

cause to wear a frock

you give up your cock

at least that’s what they tell us

the power comes

with suits and pants and manly shirts

to wear a skirt

you say “I’m not equal”

but don some slacks

and men will scream injustice

claim they wore them first

and giving you that inch of progress

is a pain they cannot bear

cause they are there

staring at our suits

with skirts too short

tops too low

and a jacket so tight

it hugs our curves

screaming “I am woman”

but they take it as a threat

I’ve had men

and women too

sneer “feminist”

when I complain about the price

of womanhood

my monthly supply of cotton wads

the bras I never wanted

shaving cream and razors

that doesn’t even mention

the cost of self esteem

heaped upon my fat-covered shoulders

swallowing pills

and counting carbs

and running til my asthma made me stop

and being told “you could be better”

and “you could be on top”

but I’ll never be

the top is saved

slapped with a sign

“reserved for men

some restrictions may apply.”

cause to be a man

you need a dick

no trans* dudes allowed

you need to take control

no wimps

be strong and tell your woman

to get back to the kitchen

again and again

minorities are told

“that’s not what we meant”

but they’ll never reach perfection

like the cis white and rich

these monsters can’t be chased

with flashlights and holy water

they must be fought

with passion

and vigor

never stopping

never resting

til we have all earned a place

in equality and peace

and injustice is no more.