you might be bigger
taller
broader
better-built
but your words do not carry more weight
my voice is not as deep
piercing
penetrating
rough
yours is louder —strangling mine
but i am still telling you
No!
i am not qualified to scream back at you
while you are humiliating me
in front of your peers
you call it respect among yourselves
i am deserving
of that same respect
i am tired of having to explain myself
i don’t need to explain myself
i don’t want to explain myself
No
is No!