Beat Poetry

Inspired by "Speak Out" by Lawrence Ferlinghetti and beat poet

You are living in the dream country. You are so lucky to live in a country that gives you freedom and equality. Or so they say. You stand there silently along with your parents and classmates silent, silent of the fact that your society treats your brother differently than you. Remember liberty and justice for all. "You should never walk alone at night, you will look like an easy victim ". "Don't wear that unless you want to get raped ". "Don't drink too much the boys will take advantage of you". Yet when boys hit girls in kindergarten all they say is "boys will be boys". Then when you ask why your brother can stay out longer than you at night your father replies "Because he's a boy we don't have to worry about him". Teaching boys that raping girls isn't OK we blame the victims. "They can't control themselves cover your shoulders ". "Don't wear those short shorts your distracting the boys from their education". "If your shirt is that low they can't pay attention in class". Our society asks victims questions like "what were you wearing?" and "were you drinking?" because if they get depicted as "asking for it" it's their fault. Yet a lot stand silent and don't speak out what they know is right. I will not let societal acceptance of sexism in our country silenced me from what I know to be wrong and I never want my future daughter to be told "don't worry he just likes you" when a boy called her mean names in school and I never want her to question if what's she's wearing makes her look like a victim. I hope she will not stay in silence like many do.