Today I strike

Today I strike
Tired of being struck
For being born a woman
In a world molded by resentful men


I remove my presence from society
Withdraw my kindnesses
And my cruelties
Throw out my cog in the economic engine
Because resented and small
Though I may be
I matter
As much as any man
If not more


If you take away my body
Level me to atoms
The sum of my parts
And his
Are identical
The loss of me perhaps greater
For what I can do
Where he can't


I do the same work
Multiplied
And more
Empathy blended with analysis
Softness twisting steel
Cutting through his false bravado
A hot knife to his narcissistic throat


Envied for my skill
Hated just the same
Because to be a girl
Is to incur scorn from infancy


Today I show what a world without me is like
I know I will be missed
For all of the things I do
For all of the things I don't
I take with me my sugar and spice
My seventy seven cents


Enjoy your bland, broke day