Hey little girl

Hey little girl.

Hey.
Look at me.

I am the face of your oppressor.
I am white. I am male.
I am privileged.

What is privilege, you say?
Privilege —
Privilege is fighting for others
and not being scared if you lose.

Hey little girl.

Where’s your mommy?
I saw her cry at breakfast
because she didn’t know what to say
because she doesn’t have a voice
because she’s just like you, little girl.

Hey.
Look at me.

I am smiling. I have hope.
Lean on my shoulder, and take my hand
for comfort, like you’re supposed to.

I promise you won’t get grabbed by the pussy
with me around.

Hey little girl.

Look at me. Look at my face.
It has called girls like you

bitch
fat
ugly
slob

As the son of a mother
As nephew to an aunt, no wait
two aunts
As grandson to two grandmothers
I promise those comments offend me.

Hey little girl.
don’t cry.

I didn’t mean to scare you.
You can be anything you want to be.

What do you want to be —

nurse?
assistant —
no wait. secretary?

Hey little girl.

Wow you’ve grown so much —
careful now.

you don’t want to crack that glass ceiling

it’s so clear and clean
so that little girls like you can look up
to the sky
and dream.