Why I am and am not a feminist

I had always wondered
if I was just
a fraud
parading around
in
stilettos
and my short,
short skirts
I had the ass for it, after all

I didn't look like them
but I was them.
I was all of them.

they'd laugh and call
me fruit fly
flame dame
fag hag
god-damned wannabe
art fucker,
take off your heels,
you're
your
own
prison
they said.

and it didn't matter
what I read
or thought

I raised my hand
to answer
proudly
with
perfectly
manicured nails

and you didn't listen

I sit back
and let
the ones who
looked more
like they fit the bill
speak
for
me.

-J