you will understand when you are older,
that is what we are told,
so why do i stand in the mirror,
just try to think that i am pretty enough ,
we sit down in the bath and look down at the rolls beneath the boobs we must cover up,
don’t be a slut ,
don’t distract the male teachers who are not old enough to keep their eyes to themselves,
there is punishment for wearing your clothes the school says you can wear,
the two pounds so sneakily snatched from your hands as a list of what you can’t wear is replaced into them,
no straps showing,
no knees,
shoulders we don’t want to see those they show to much skin,
if you fight back the stubborn answer is
it gives the school a bad reputation ,
but what about ours ,
the slim bitchy girls who so quietly snigger in the corner,
texting one another about the fact you didn’t wear ripped jeans ,
assuming you are not rebellious enough,
and the boys won’t want you when they find that out,
if you don’t drink or swear,
the fact you have never been touched before ,
but the stories you so often hear about what your ‘friend’ did with her boyfriend last night,
her description so detailed
her mum was only downstairs ,
but it’s ok ,
everyone does it ,
don’t worry ,
you’ll get there ,
you will understand when you are older.