men who are afraid of me

like you,

because I yelled

unexpectedly

or the ones I seduced

too easily

scared I’ll leave

or withdraw regard

my need

seared by wit

can’t forgive

or forget

that spell

he feels

unspecified annoyed

can’t tell

why

a woman tall

and loud and hoyden

is just

too much

a burden

when you’re built to fight or fuck

coward men

need soft chides

with love

and shimmer

not a simmer

from

the lash of

her storm’s

bad weather

messing all your

ruffled feathers

bound in tradition

that’s conditioned

you’re blind

your man eyes

can’t see

so, so sooo sorry

not sorry me

 

Photo by Jennifer Marquez on Unsplash