Our world is run by men. It is every woman's choice whether she wants to play in to their world or fight against it. It is your choice whether you want to be what everyone wants you to be, it's your choice if you don't want to ruffle any feathers. Your life will be easier, your life might even be happier. Or you can choose the other option and fight back. You can march for your rights, protest until you are paid, back down for nothing, fight for yourself and half of the world. You will be knocked down again and again. Your life will be harder, maybe even more unhappy, but there's a possibility that some young woman in the future won't have to make this choice. There's a chance you change the world. Every woman has to make a choice. My advice to you, make the right one.

I once knew a girl

who was shy and nerdy

and had thin wispy brown hair.

I once became friends with a girl

who became loud and outgoing

and dyed her thin wispy hair black

I was once best friends with a girl 

who wore darkness and listened to punk bands

and had thin wispy black hair. 

I once drifted from a girl

who was distant and flaky

and had thin wispy crazy hair.

I once knew a girl

who I texted everyday 

and had hair I hadn't seen in months.

I once loved a girl 

who never responded

and had a thin wispy black heart. 

Real, is what I can reach out and touch.

And yet the voices in my head,

and the sobs hovering in my mouth

and the words that graze my ear

feel so real.

They have no presence, 

they leave nothing behind but memories,

but they are so real.

Reality is what stays with us

when we close our eyes at night

and open them in the morning

real are the images in my head

and the feelings in my heart.

Real is what I choose to believe  

Learn the word no.

Say it to friends and family.

Say it to boys and girls.

Say no to friendships,

and hardships.

Say no to hurt

and destruction.

Save your yes,

for the special few who make you want to say it.

Save your yes, 

for the ones who will never ask you to jump off a cliff.

Save your yes,

for the people that want to come closer,

for the people that don't ever walk away.

Learn to love to say no. 

Summer gives me many joys,

the beating sun,

cool crisp waves.

Summer gives me late night cries,

and morning somber,

and lying awake.

Summer gives,

and summer takes

I'm scared. I'm hiding under the bed, sleeping with the dust bunnies. And I can hear her breathe and feel her toss in her sleep, and watch the drool fall to the floor that creaks when I try to escape. And she rolls over in her sleep, and I dart back into my dark place, fearful of the day her eyes open and she sees me. Every night she comes here, into this room that should be mine. Her pink feet are all I can see from my hiding spot. She stomps, ready to squash me with one step, her dress flying into the air. Her parents come with her every night into this room. They pick her up and place her on the bed and call the ferocious creature sweetie. And then she cries, and cries, and cries. Her parents run back in, and I know she's pointing to my hiding spot. That finger that I can only image is covered in claws and spikes, is aimed straight at me. I back into the corner, because what else can I do, the creature has death sentence for me. And once the lights are out and she's alone, I am trapped. She is a deadly creature and I'm defenseless against her.