Choices

Emily Bradshaw

The little boy that sits across from you,

You always thought he was a rotten one.

He whined, and groaned, and screamed, and cried.

Again and again from the rise to the fall of the sun.

 

Here he sits today, staring at your plate,

Of the beautifully made lunch your 

Mother prepared so you weren’t late.

 

With his greedy grubby hands,

He took your sandwich, and your apples, and your chocolate milk,

Till there was nothing left.

 

“Hey!” you shouted as the teacher walked by.

“Boys will be boys” she chuckled,

As you were left hungry.

 

It seems like this never stops,

As you aged into a woman.

“Boys will be boys”

Oh you hear it so often.

 

But your sandwich turned into your rights,

Your apples into your virginity,

And your chocolate milk into your freedom.

 

“Boys will be boys” they voice.

You don’t get a choice.

  • Author: Emily Bradshaw (Offline Offline)
  • Published: April 22nd, 2023 17:11
  • Comment from author about the poem: This is the 2nd poem in my most recent collection that I have titled Nouveau America. To answer a question in the comments of the first one I released, my inspiration comes from recent legislation in America. I am a woman as well as a member of the LGBTQ community and I am absolutely appalled by recent laws passed and rights taken away. I started writing most of this collection after the heat of the Trans Genocide started a few months ago but this particular poem I wrote directly after Roe v Wade was overturned. As a member of the youth of America I hope to use my writing to convince older generations to save our minority communities before we are cast out of society completely. If not, however, I have no doubt that my generation will take over and help our world heal.
  • Category: Sociopolitical
  • Views: 6
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Comments +

Comments2

  • David Wakeling

    This is quite interesting.The trouble with boys is they grow into monsters.So it becomes "Men will be Men".I don't really have a lot of hope for the future or my daughters

    • Emily Bradshaw

      I recently did a research study on this particular subject matter and I honestly think the biggest difference is education that men receive on the struggles of womanhood. As much as I wish it wasn't necessary, I hope your daughters are able to fight their way through this unequal world.

    • Doggerel Dave

      You precisely nail how cultural norms impose/encourage gender roles on individuals in society. This is the problem at its core.
      You have the awareness which you must spread wider than this little corner at MPS.



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