He’s Just Joking

I wanted to write a poem called:

Grab her by her p&$$y

But my mother forbade it

Something about the language

And how it should never be used

I've been known in the past

To tear into sexual harassers

Mainly at bars

With my friends

When I have some liquid courage

But it doesn't matter how much of a feminist killjoy I am

When I get a catcall in the streets

I hold my keys between my fingers and walk faster

The words like snake skin

Smooth and cold against my brain

reminding me of fangs

And poison

And choking

How many blacked eyed women

How many raped girls

And dead and tangled ladies does it take

To create a society where

He's just joking

And I'm just crazy