What they take from us

It starts when we’re children
They put us in their laps
Staring at our chubby thighs
Stopping there only if we’re lucky


In adolescence
Breasts bud and hips widen
Naive and unsure of ourselves
We trust them
But they follow us
Hold us down
Grab us
Stain us
Blame us


As adults
Our senses of self distorted
We flock to uttered love
The waiting wolf
Slavering at the scent of our need


We don’t need to believe it
Only to hear it said
The proof in what they take from us
And how they leave