How often we tell children
“Use your words.”
But, we forget too easily
that words have power
only if they are heard,
and not dismissed breezily.
Men decided long ago
not to listen to women.
So many lies are told
to quiet women’s voices.
Eve has never been forgiven
for opening men’s eyes
to painful truths.
Women’s voices are not more shrill.
Women’s screams are not made
to give men their thrills.
Women’s truths are too often
pushed aside to save male pride.
Doors are slammed shut
against voices women can trust.
“Use your words?”
How soon we forget.
Pain is the great motivator
of forgetfulness.
It deadens speech.
It silences words.
Bullies remind us of our pain
to shut our mouths
and drown truth out.
“Use your words!”
Do not forget their power
in the kitchen, in the bedroom,
in the schoolroom, in the boardroom.
“Use your words,” minute by minute,
hour after hour, until the day comes
you can vote your own power
to “use your words.”
annarino writes 