TO THE ONE WHO MADE ME HATE BEING A WOMAN

You could shame me into doing

A million things I feared

I'd stay silent, awaiting

Your next move to appear

Uncontrollable breathing

The boy across the street

To each on-looking eye

So kind and so sweet

A 'young gentleman' and 'nice guy'

You were smart and quick

Above me like a tumbling brick

You came crashing down on my skull

Fracturing my little mind

Burning my skin with your ice-cold heart

Pressing against my fare blank canvas

You forced on me, your terrible art

You made me hate being a woman,

You made me hate being weak,

You made me hate being vulnerable,

Unable to weep

Openly, so as to not look like a victim

You made me hate myself,

My thoughts,

My feelings,

You made me hate Mankind

But you were just a boy

A 'good boy' at that

I was 11 at the time

Unsure of my strength

Unaware of the power

that comes from being a woman

Women are not weak

Women are not victims

We are survivors

And you are a beast

A monster that feasts

On women who can't see

how powerful they are

How strong they can be.

written by Chloe Ray | @thechloeray

Self portrait by Chloe Ray