Just Watch Me Habibah Choudhry

Your disinterest is my protection And my defence is prevention

From all the things that you would do If I liked your attention.

My silence is seen as depression

Yet my speech is somehow aggression. Why am I fighting a battle that wouldn’t be won, Even if all of creation Built a wall from your oppression? Because I am just a possession.

My weakness is explanation A reason for desperation. My being is your inclination To act on your temptation. If I succumb to your decisions I am a coward for no reaction To your tyranny.

Yet, if I stand up for violation, To my rights, And degradation, Of my worth, I ruin your reputation. Because your honour is worth more than my predation, By you, your attackers and...

Exploitation! I cannot escape, The chains of generations in my position.

My retaliation Is an allegation

To your masculinity, A threat to your superiority. If I am the prey Why do you worry so much Of change to your authority?

It’s not like you’d ever promise me The safety of my own body. Countless opportunities

To turn me into yet another horror story Of warriors, slave to your violence: gory. Unable to run, trapped by Your sexist ideology.

“Don’t speak too loud”

“Don’t wear those clothes”

“Don’t fall in love”

Watch me