World Poetry Day 2017: ‘A Woman’s Worth’ – Jennifer McGeever

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First featured on Stylish Substance

You are, actually, worth fighting for
You are worthy of selfless friendship
You are worthy of unexpected kindness
You are worth a good night’s sleep

You are better than giving them another day of your life
You are more than less than

You are allowed to take up space (especially when you got there first)
You are allowed to be more educated
You are allowed to walk in your desire
Be entitled to.

She is worthy of shelter
She is worthy of freedom to bleed
Without interruption to her everyday month
She is worthy of understanding the world
She is worthy of still being able to feel
Electricity between her thighs
Unmutilated.
She is worthy of owning
She is unworthy of being owned

No, you don’t have to always make room for him
No you don’t have to accommodate
No—it actually doesn’t mean yes

You are worthy of not crying yourself to sleep
You are worthy of being accommodated
You are worthy to serve

You are worthy of taking the time
You are allowed to take a breath
You are allowed to be breakable
You are allowed to dream, please do
You are allowed to not know

You are worthy of not being prey

She is entitled to your respect
She is entitled to her feelings
Yes, she is worth your unadulterated fidelity
She is every woman you love
Yes, maybe she is better off without you

You are worthy to serve
One another in love
You are worthy to be treated
In love as you treat others

Yes, you are.

— Jennifer McGeever

Ed note: The symbol on the envelope above is a (badly scribed) Chinese character for ‘female’.

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