What do you see

What do you see when you see me?
Do you see a pair of breasts, an ass or legs?
Do you see just a body, inanimate, an object?
When you decide to touch me, unpermitted
What do you see — something to satisfy your desires?
A thing, a slave with no rights to her own self?

But when my eyes lock, fleetingly, with another woman
Walking past on that same road, I see — another human
Eyes darting everywhere, trying to anticipate the next straying hand
I see ears trying to shut out the clamour of your ugly words
I see disgust in the lines of her face, a weariness, a sharp fear
I see the courage in her step, walking on, despite you

Do you have the courage to see what I see?
To discover the human hiding inside of you?