I can tell you
I fell for it so many times
It defies the act of my enumeration.
Can you be bulldozed and gaslighted
From a position of societal privilege
And exoticism framed by an international education?
Yes you can.
To whom much is given
Much is expected
Of ‘our sort’
That we be kind, lovely, dignified
Noble, and above the fray.
Above reality.
It would seem The Fray
Is Reality’s illegitimate daughter
Not to be received in our hallowed society
Of private clubs, Ivy and Junior Leagues.
Where the aberrant Sisters,
Intelligence, Insight and Independence
Are not welcome.
Sequestered in the glamorous lessening
Of our minds
And Our Perspective.
We did not see that our lessening
Was by implicit design
Sanctioned by our own enabling.
Pleasing men
And the status quo
Which is Seated at the right hand
Of our fathers, brothers, husbands
Remains our time-honored place
Unless we wish to be ALONE,
We must stay quiet
In our resolute, blindfolded complacency.
I know I often longed
To sincerely want the comfort
So many of my sisters revere.
Convincing myself,
I must seek the solace
And security of respectability
Coupled within the trappings of richness and ease.
It poisoned me
From within
Pushing out my character and history
My beliefs, my abilities, my confidence
To reason and give my voice
An honest home.
