Out of the Dark

We're unsure you've heard our stories told
Or seen our names in headlines bold
Disregarded by the press
Portrayed as if our life’s a mess

The narrative, that we’re at fault
As if we can avoid assault
You don’t see, the way we try
You don’t like to think of why

We don't walk the dark alone
We're never caught, without our phone
Our keys, we clench, within our fists
Defense from monsters, in the mists

It's not the claws, of beasts we fear
Tis' eyes from which the shadows leer
The minds that do devalue us
The mouths that scare and snarl and cuss

The hands they grab, the pupils stare
At clothes you rip and strip and tear
Our bodies and our souls you bruise
When you treat us as, a thing to use

You claim it's action, we provoke
With shoes and skirts and straps we stoke
You know that that, is just a lie
To hide the darkness, that's inside

Consent is not a grey debate
We will tell it to you straight
If it's yes, or if it's no
Respect is what we all should sow

We may have, two sets of lips
One is set, below our hips
Only one can grant permission
It's not a question of omission

You say that if, our legs were closed
That would have shown, we were opposed
As if our screams and cries weren't real
Frightened we, may never heal

When the marks of harm are clear
You try to make us disappear
Keep the conversation hushed
Lay blame to keep our spirits crushed

Don't tell, don't talk, don't let it show
It's better if, nobody knows
Damaged goods, you say we are
Our virgin inner sanctum marred

Hussy, harlot, tramp or whore
No one will want us anymore
Bitch and floozy, tart and tease
You throw these terms about with ease

The names you give, define our place
Not our brains or brawn or face
Butch or Princess, Slut or Prude
Every single one is rude

The broken ones, whose choice was taken
Whose very heart and selves are shaken
Why do you need, to cause them shame?
To you, it seems, it's just a game

Too many times, we hear this tale
A system meant for justness failed
Run by those of morals weak
Who don't permit true victims speech

An imbalance in, our power roles
No good choices, at the polls
Those who win, peer through the glass
Treat us like we're second class

You think you tell us how to dress
How to shape and size our chests
It's up to you, the things we flaunt
Dependent on the flesh you want

We give you life, from us you snatch
The right to stop an egg attach
To raise a child, or let it free
You cannot make that choice for me

You've had years, to push your force
To write the code, to be the source
But now Times Up, the dawn is near
A new awakening is here

Within ourselves, we've found the light
No one is giving up the fight
Our voice is loud, our voice is strong
This is not a siren song

We are sugar, spice, and strength
For Her, we’ll go to any length
We celebrate, our sisters brazen
An era of belief we’re raising

Standing with us, are our brothers
Who love their sisters, friends, and mothers
Not hiding blind, behind your veil
They see what's rotten, putrid, stale

They take our hands and raise them high
From us you'll hear, a battle cry
We stand on gains, of libs before
Who gave their lives, to give us more

Nasty Woman, Solider, Queen
And all that are the in between
We've had enough, we won't withdraw
Our backs not bent, by these last straws

This path is done, we've paid the toll
We're taking back, the rights you stole
Equal law and equal pay
So our daughters live, a different day

We know the work, has hardly started
Too many countries, still are parted
The age is now, momentum builds
The movement's bated breath is chilled

Every human being’s invited
To see these grave mistakes are righted
We fight for one, we fight for all
Protect insurgents from a fall

Lasting change, takes time and work
Responsibilities unshirked
Until equality, is here to stay
These rebel thoughts, will lead the way

We know the task at hand is hard
We may arise from this with scars
These warrior’s wounds, will be our mark
Of our emergence, from the dark.