International Women's Day

There was once, and occasionally is,

This being inside of me wanting

To burst out of my shell and become

Tarzan, or Peter Pan, or Batman.

To exit alongside my heroes

Running wild, doing brave deeds.

So far away from where I live,

So close to where my heart beats.

Never acknowledging the world

Will never tire trying to stop

Me from moving forward.

The force of its hate, dismissal,

And rejection, so prevailing;

Making it mightily difficult

To keep my young legs pumping

Along the path I travel.

Why can I not recognize

The difference between me

And my heroes? It is not

In scope or strength that our

Ways depart, but in that

One word, that I am, but

Don’t own. That word that

Seeks, but is rarely spoken.

Girl.