Day 175: Dear Me Too
Dear #MeToo,
I’ve been thinking ‘bout you.
I’m late to the party, please accept my apology;
but you remind me of things I keep locked, deep inside a’ me.
I just said to myself, “it’s the way of the world.”
but your solidarity has my silence unfurled.
See, strength (up till now) has been “take it in stride.”
Just march past the fear that he planted inside.
Those fight or flight moments are years gone by –
(I wanna) stop throwing punches to shadows at night.
It’s just the way things are,
it’s just the way things are,
a little more time should cover that scar…
But look what you’ve done, #MeToo, see what you’ve started;
you’re giving a voice to the hidden stouthearted.
I know six more #MeToos who choose not to come forward
and to them I give nod, but let’s put light in their corners:
things are not always “the way things are;”
both women and men are raising this bar.
This isn’t a war cry, this isn’t attack;
this is making safe spaces where safety has lacked.
Let’s make our eyes wider but not harden the heart.
Let’s see what it is so what can be can start.
Just see us, just look, we’ll earn our own merit.
There’s more than meat under our skins, man, I swear it.
Here come our daughters, they’re coming of age.
Let’s change up their script and let’s reset their stage.
Here come our sons, they’re learning the rules;
but the gaze of their fathers will be the real schools.
(#MeToo), you wrote chapter one
and the pages have turned.
But let’s write the last line:
say,
“that’s the way things were.”
