if you have a daughter

teach her that it is

not her responsibility

to go get the popcorn

for every man in the bleachers

(not even if they let her

keep the change).

teach her that this is not

the way to garner attention.

that it is not her job to make sure

every dad gets fed.

teach her that she is not

an errand girl for

every man’s want or need.

if you have a daughter

teach her please that she

can stay in the stands

and watch the game

all for herself.

teach her not to be defined

by the ones who keep

asking her to go and get their food.

if you have a daughter

teach her to love the game

more that she loves the

approval of hungry men.

CMK (c) 2023.

(from a series of poems entitled

Love Poems for the Resistance)