Today's poem is by Jane Muschenetz

Breaking Point (Woman. Life. Freedom.)
       

for your own good they will tell you:
"It's for your own good," and they will bind your feet
they will beat you to death for not wearing your headscarf
and they won't let you into med school, for your own good

they will rape you in the streets and force you to marry at 13,
and at 9, and at 6 years old, and at no years at all, infant girl
when all you take from this world is a breath, they will take it back
smother you, for your own good, and for your mother's own good too

they will lock you in the house as slave labor
for your own good, they will burn your face with acid,
burn you alive at the stake, at the public bus stop,
cut you off from your friends and your God

for your own good, they will cut your tongue out,
cut your hands off with an axe,
cut your clitoris from your body,
cut your access to healthcare and tell you this
is how it is.

How?!

it has always been

How?!
it must and should be, for your own good and for a long time

for a very long time

you will believe them.

Copyright © 2024 Jane Muschenetz All rights reserved
from Power Point
Sheila-Na-Gig Editions
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission