Little Girls

I was a little girl when
patriarchy told me to be a boy

      little girls obey

like a precision cookie cutter
the role is well defined

      little girls conform

I read the script
played the role and
put the costume on

      little girls are invisible

I loved the patriarchy
I knew no other lover
the abuse felt well deserved

      little girls endure

forty years I slept with him
the vampire tried
to suck me dry

he told me I was weak and needed him

he tumbled from his rocking chair
when I walked out a woman

      little girls are powerful