When I was young I wanted to be male.
How genital equipment could create
a deep discrepancy I’d weekly fail
to comprehend. But it appeared my fate
would be to linger kitchenbound like Mom
at parties, talking babies, food and health;
applying makeup, planning for the prom;
while all the men had news, prestige, or wealth.

I found out what it’s like to be perceived
as weak and sweet and passive, classified
a maiden, my directness disbelieved,
my strength distrusted, dirtied, or denied.
I learned just how unfair assumptions are
(like those of each religion organized
by men) and more, I understood they’re far
from being true, and useless as devised.

When I was young I wanted to be male –
Perhaps I intersected history,
where women walk outside without a veil,
and girls are manifesting destiny.