by Piper Muhlhauser

Tell me,
Who took your fist and told you not to fight with it?
To say you were too weak to
Protect yourself

Tell me,
Who took your arm and told you not to raise it?
To say you mustn’t raise it and
Ask questions

Tell me,
Who took your brain and told you not to think?
To say you weren’t smart enough to
Become independent and make your own decisions

Tell me,
Who took your eyes and told you not to see?
To say you were too blind to
Seek the truth

Tell me,
Who took your mouth and told you not to speak?
To say that you weren’t allowed to
Question what’s already available to you

Tell me,
Who took your heart and told you not to feel?
To say you weren’t wise enough to
Know what you want

Tell me,
Who took your legs and told you not to move?
To say that you didn’t have the power to
Start a movement

Tell me,
Who took your feet and told you not to stand?
To say you weren’t capable of
Choosing your own battles

Tell me,
Who took your life and told you it was their own?
To say you weren’t allowed to
Live your own life

Now tell me,
Who took those words and used them against you?
You don’t deserve that and are more beautiful than you know so
Keep on moving on