my whole life i’ve been tolerant

never once spoke out of turn 

learned how to

sit DOWN

SHUT up

stay the same

why aren’t you different? 

it’s nice to be around you they say

do you know what it’s like in my mind?

everything in order nothing out of place and everyone’s happy

everyone? 

and as I sit and listen to boys complain about the insignificance of the wage gap

the tampon tax

and the innumerable glass ceilings

i wonder if their mothers grew up hearing the same arguments

and their mothers too. 

perhaps they mean no harm. 

perhaps it’s the fault of the same system that taught me that it’s better to be liked than it is to be revolutionary. 

be just enough

not too much or you’re a narcissist. 

too little, do you even like yourself? 

what is ENOUGH

enough is enough

and if beauty is what we crave so deeply 

if it is the means of our livelihood then why is the world a wretched place    ? 

i can bite my tongue and turn the other cheek

but if it is true that we carry the rage of our female ancestors 

then we have more than enough.

HEADER BY: AGLAIA JOITHE