Protect Your Space

When I say “no” I mean that 

Why do I have to repeat what I say? 

Why is this world so nasty, 

Why do men always want their way? 

Why are woman devalued,  

Why are women a streak? 

The girl that he ‘gave’ his homeboy, 

is the girl that he dumped last week? 

Why are men only ‘hunters’, 

If only, women are the prey? 

Why are men only chasers, 

If we have something to give away? 

Why do men become cheaters, 

Suddenly, when their marriage is weak? 

Why is it when wives discover all this,  

the only time men care to speak? 

Why do men think that relationships  

Automatically confirms consent? 

You’re coerced into thinking, “you’re supposed to do this” 

Though that is not what is meant 

And why do we have some male friends, 

only some, that are this way 

Who don’t respect our boundaries, 

And give into this play? 

And now, I am so tired, 

Tired of just trying to stay safe 

I listen, I watch, I stand up for myself,  

I stay to myself, I enjoy my space 

Some men are a distraction, some men will use you, 

Some men will hurt you, not knowing what they do, 

but he does not say what he did, so he has no excuse 

And then some men will hurt you, because they have been hurt too 

This man was my father, The first man to hurt me, his pain had made a mark, 

And there stemmed the line of harassment and abuse 

And now I am fighting, I will no longer sit, 

And allow these things to happen to me 

I will not falter when they try, 

To have me the way I used to be 

I will protect myself, always, and never bend my boundaries or rules, 

Speak up if a man is hurting you 

We will not act for them as their own tools