“Women Have It So Easy” By Aryshaa Riaz

I felt pretty,

Until I saw the magazine.

Covers in the shop, 

And an old friend

Thriving while I am not.

I was happy

Being on my own,

With both arms swinging free 

But I keep receiving weird

Looks and people can’t

Believe I’m still single.

Do they want me?

This girl who I hardly know, 

Hates me for liking her boyfriend,

A couple years back. 

She brags all the attributes,

She has that I seem to lack.

I felt passionate, confident, 

But it was my mistake

To showcase that in a room

Full of men.

They quiet me down,

Tell me I’m being too loud. 

They prefer women

Who are softer spoken.

People keep asking what I’ll do

After school. They tell me that I need

A career fixed quick. 

Once I have kids it will be a battle,

Reaching for financial security.

I don’t feel like talking.

Everyone around me is blissful.

I get ridiculed:

Are you on that time of the month?

They still say:

Women have it so easy.

But you wouldn’t make it through a day

If you had to live through me.