I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling

            — Isaiah 51:22

Our minds are not yours

to have your way with.

No, not our bodies either.

Keep your key to our lives

and achievements to yourself.

You are no master of ours.

Still, you come to us with longing

and unsolicited advice:

Let down your hair and your goals

and your dangerous gender ideologies.

Be your husband’s pride and joy,

of less daring — more noble — character.

More for less.

You want us smaller

(the little woman

cowered under

Adam’s rib).

YOU COWARD.

You want our riches, but not our power.

Our diamonds, coal, cherries, oil.

You want to strip us, nail us, crush us,

pillage, plunder, f**k us.

Well f**k that.

Our world is not your oyster.

You cannot plumb our depths.

And because we will not let you,

you’re hellbent to pry the lock

and nail us to the cross you claim

we’re destined to bear ‘til kingdom come.

Your kingdom.

But how’s that old parable go?

For want of a nail, the shoe was lost,

followed by horse, rider, battle, and kingdom…

There’s a proverb for you.

You want us trembling?

We’ll give you the very cup of trembling.