FREE VERSE Poem: hands off, by Rain Crockett

all my life no one seemed to care
men would look at me
as if they cared

those people who would be like
“oh can i touch your hair?”
and the answer is

no you cannot touch me
no you cannot judge me
no you cannot rub me

in any way, shape, or form

no you cannot hug me
no you cannot love me
no you cannot take me

anywhere

but what you can do is
respect me

use your eyes for
more than undressing me

disrespect me again
and i’ll give you a vasectomy
to your future children
may they rest in peace

you speak to me
a human being
as if i do not deserve the right to breathe

i understand that in this country
you have the freedom of speech
but watch the way that you speak
to me