by Sarah Leidhold
Three women By pablo Picasso, Pablo/State Hermitage / Culture Images / Universal Images Group/all Rights Managed
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Globally, one in three women will be raped, beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime.
-From a report by UNIFEM, the women’s fund at the United Nations.
Walk like the wolverine
awaiting attack–
grasp your cold metal keys
like a weapon
in case the bones behind
your knuckles aren’t strong
enough to crack the skull
that’s holding the brain
that’s hatching the plan
to hurt you.
You must be ready.
One in three—
you,
her,
or me.
Restrain your provoking
siren self.
They are easily stimulated.
Every night is
their mating season.
Float just above
the pavement, silent.
Travel in packs;
drape your skirts just
below the come-hither
curves of your ankles.
They can detect fear
in their knowing nostrils–
listen for the crinkle of recognition
and the howl of pursuit.
Slink through the shadows
but avoid the darkness.
Slip ninja stars
into your bra cups
and spray yourself
with skunk musk
instead of perfume.
One in three—
you
her,
or me.
Sarah Leidhold, an overzealous student at Worcester State University, harbors a pervasive addiction to both producing and absorbing poetry. She especially enjoys the uninhibited spilling out of inspired sentiments in the all-accepting form of free verse. More of her work can be found here.
Photo credit: http://quest.eb.com/search/525_2913015/1/525_2913015/cite