Nice Girl (poem)

I'm a nice girl.

I say yes, please, and thank you.

I do not know the word no.

It is a word forbidden from my vocabulary.

I'm a nice girl.

I cannot speak up for what I think is right.

Since I cannot say the word no, I must find other ways to communicate it.

Nicer and more polite ways.

I'm a nice girl.

When I walk to my car at night, I hold my keys between my knuckles.

I hide them there so no one will see.

It is my weapon, my only defense since I cannot say no.

I'm a nice girl.

When a guy is making me uncomfortable I back away an inch at a time.

I creep away slowly and quietly, hoping he will take my hint.

If he doesn't take the hint I'm fucked because I can't say no.

I'm a nice girl.

When a guy makes a rape joke I sit quietly and listen for the punchline.

When I'm walking to my car at night and I see a man coming toward me, I speed up my pace and grip my keys tighter.

When a man moves his hand closer and closer to my thigh, I inch away slowly and cautiously.

I'm a nice girl.

I do not say no.

I try and give hints, in hope people will understand them.

I am voiceless.

I'm a nice girl.

Nice girls don't last.