I am not a woman because I bleed
I am not a woman because you will not be the first to lay seed,
in my belly
I am not a woman because I have hair in places mama told me not to talk about
No.
I am a woman because life has beaten me
held me down under the ocean and taught me to breathe
like a fish
dodging nets of
bad men and deadly opportunity
you see?
I am a woman because I can
hold my head high when I am told I am
less than, incapable of, too old, too young or spun
out
Burnt out, no clout, living in a world of doubt.
I am a woman because I can love unconditionally
rid myself of jealousy
and love
me
and the
the world, the relationship, the effect, and the cause
I am a woman because no longer am I governed
by the laws
of girl