He raped me
But I get the blame
He assaulted me
Yet they say I talked back to him
He harassed me
And the conclusion is that my skirt was short
The hopeless cycles
The slut shaming
All because I am a woman
Mother says my husband is god
Father says he should have all my earnings
Society says my children must bear his name
Pastor says I must always submit to him
My boss sends me home on time so I cook for him
My career is meaningless
My feelings do not matter
I have a duty to that man that is god
All because I am a woman
Don't tell me its custom!
Don't tell me about society!
Don't tell me its how it is!
I am a human being
And I matter!
I do not have to sacrifice my life
On the altar of marriage
My dreams do not have to die
Slavery need not be my new reality
All because I am a woman
So I will speak
And I will stand on my rights
I will have my freedom
I will not be quiet in the face of oppression
I would not let anyone make me cower!
All because I am a woman
**Poetry written by me ...
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