More Cautionary Poems

OK so here's a couple more poems from the series I'm doing with my daughter, tentatively titled "Carson Clare's Trail Guide to Avoiding Death--A Collection of Cautions Designed to Help You Live Life, Do Cool Stuff, and Possibly Make it Through Middle School."

I personally don't regard the patriarchy as that big a menace, but what do I know?

The Patriarchy

If you were born female
(and if so, huzzah!)

here’s something else
that may stick in your craw:

It’s the inclination of men
to make women believe

that they’re lesser somehow.
It happened to Eve,

who was blamed by her mate
for a diet decision

that led to the couple’s
sweet lease deal rescission.

But who wrote that tale?
Can you answer, “men”?

And who was around
to take statements back then?

The fact of the matter is,

men have long tried,
by hook and by crook,

to keep women down
on the basis of looks

and whether we coddle
the egos of dudes

and admire their muscles.
These lame attitudes.

worked for years upon years.
Women were chattel—

couldn’t own, couldn’t vote—
we were bartered like cattle—

made to work for low pay.
It’s still that way

in lots of earth’s regions,
and some think it’s okay

but others of us
are determined to state

that women are equals,
and equals don’t wait

for others to give
what is rightfully ours—

not one more mad minute,
not one more long hour.

We can do everything
our brothers can do,

and sometimes do it better
(it hurts, but it’s true).

So girls, mind the menace
that held us so long,

the big bearded peril
that’s reaped so much wrong,

the habit of men to
put us in fetters.

It worked for a while,
but now we know better.

These bonds aren’t of iron.
They’re made in the mind.

Only now they are breaking.
Because now is our time.


Sharks

As the ocean’s ultimate predator fish,
the shark is a difficult dude to dismiss:

emotionless, dead-eyed, unpersuaded by cute,
he’ll join you in your swimming suit.

But not to swim. He’s done all that.
He’s a big fan of your body fat.

For him there’s no difference between panic and play.
He can smell your blood a mile away.

His teeth are tough, and slice through skin
to leave a hole where your legs have been.

Of evolution’s many gifts,
give loud hosannas for this one:
while sharks may claim to rule the waves,
thank God they never learned to run!