mars


what we allot to women


the times they are a changing
as women change their lot
and with much rearranging
some freedoms have been wrought

what we permit to women
we make shameful to men
if you will embody these
you'll be judged feminine

women are our nurturers
this is what we expect
to provide us care and comfort
and to genuflect

have empathy and deference
is what they are told
be the bigger person
even when you're getting sold

regarding chastity
this is a made up standard
and so women having sex
does not make them slandered

granted sensitivity
to show weakness when you're weak
to be as soft as you feel
without hearing critique

emotional expression
to speak the thing your feeling
though it's cast as weakness
at least you're not concealing

submission and support
the roles women are taught
binary division
is what creates our gender knot

and so the lines are drawn
our experiences preordained
but we each have agency
so live it unconstrained