must I really be of a man
must I
can he really bear the weight
of two wives? and claim to protect us?
can he?
or can the migrating city thrive
under the wise word of warrior women
who turn to each other with a love
no men could ever give them?
must the girls be raised
to think of themselves as destined
to belong to a man?
or can they be raised to think of men
as they're equal — and for now, as their predator too?
can girls be conscious and unafraid to fight back,
or must they be innocent and available?
will this stay under the rule
or will we women weave the new world
and bring to the girls who we raise today
a new spring in the sea of grass
the sea where we drowned the chains
that kept us slaves to these men?