Fall 2017 final digital.pdf


A Poem for the Next Generation 
of Women

Caitlyn Bruszewski

I walk the streets at night
hoping, wishing, praying
That my clothing does not hug my body too tight.

That my perfume does not travel through the alleys
to those waiting for someone like me
to walk the streets at night.

when they say,

or we will hurt you.”

and in danger.

I put on clothing that masks my body
because I want to, need to, must hide
it away because it is an open invitation to a man.
If  I wear shorts, a skirt, a dress, a tank top
my freedom of  choice is an open invitation to a man.
To touch, to stare, to judge.

because then I will not be seen by a man
as anything more than a prude.

of  6 months for branding me as his behind a dumpster
when I will die unhealed from the tragedy.



Caitlyn Bruszewski

The land of  the free is only referring to the man
because my body is not free.
My body is not my own.

that he has a right to touch me, grab me, take me
because I was there and beautiful.
How could he resist?

when the woman was dressed provocatively?

I am told that I will not be loved by a man
because then I am not a trophy.

Keep a man happy because he is your lifeline.

rising like a wave
and I will crash
into this damn patriarchy
that has taught me to dress
to please a man but not to please myself.

hit, cheat, rape, or demean me
because men do not want us to know
that they are weak.

hit, cheat, rape, or demean
his wife, daughter, mother, sister, lover.

my freedom of  choice to any man.

and I will grab back.”