Independent draft

I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T do you know what that means?
Actually, I don't.
Not anymore.
Not since I was told that the only thing missing in my life is a man-
but I don't see his face on the side of milk cartons
there's not police search team going through my personal life
and I sure as hell don't miss something I don't even know yet.

I can't help it though
my mom raised my sister and I to be independent
growing up I didn't understand what it meant
because when I fell down, I'd get back up; wouldn't wait for a hand to be extended past the life expectancy of a half hearted promise

but now? I get it. it means that
that the little things don't shake me
My self confidence is earthquake proof
and the epicenter of your insecurities isn't going to affect me
I'm not some delicate fragile china shop of a girl
so you can take your bull elsewhere if you're trying to break me

I have become strong, empowered, and confident.
and yet,
but I don't really understand exactly who i'm supposed to be
because
rappers tell me that i should l look like miss new booty but act like miss independent
supposed to show off my goods but keep it classy because if
I cross the line, have a run in with the wrong man, and end up being raped-
they'll say I was asking for it.

see, we're force feeding little girls images of women with waists smaller than their IQ
and we wonder who to point to when we see a 13 year old in a push up bra
she's just rying to lift herself up to the standards that have been so clearly set out for her

and i've been tempted to get a sex change just so i can cordially invite this world to suck my dick
but for now i'll settle for both middle fingers up
asking all the judgemental unaccepting minds to please fuck off
take their neatly organized boxes of men and women, blue and pink with thick lines between the two
but I was born with all the parts of my retina intact
so i see the world in more than black and white

I learned my alphabet properly so I know how to spell independent
and beautiful
and strong
and self assured
so ladies, if you know what i'm talking about
throw your V signs up
it's about time we started making peace with our bodies.