a girl grows up—
under a teaching that says
the fall of humanity happened
because of Woman
on a diet of patriarchal fairy tale movies
where Man rescues Woman because
Woman can’t rescue herself
hearing stories of women who
stepped out of their place and were
burned at the proverbial stake
she believes she was not
made to be strong and courageous
and bold
and yet she cannot deny the stirrings
they whisper then declare
then howl with the truth
of her being: she is the fire
she steps out
she raises her voice
she speaks.
she takes the lashes
and the beatings
and the nails
and every time she thinks
about giving up she shouts
into the shaming winds:
Yes, well, at least
I will be
f r e e
- Rachel Toalson
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