Oppression is not a Competition

I say, to a white man on stage,
rhyming about his suffering.

What i wanted
to say was: "the sea has no steps
like pain has no degrees,"
but it has been used before
to color sameness,

and this is not
what i mean.
But the man on stage
wants to lighten the mood,
get some attention, so
he says: "You girls, don't
work at Hooters, do ya?"
to me in the front.

No more will i play
silently the tune of your distraction.
But neither can i carve
up my identity in notches.

I've heard them. Seen their
effects on highschool, college
boys in Colorado, Virginia...
hunting women, shooting up life.

What can i tell you, but
we must find a different path
then this one, of notches
and belts serving as bullets
and rope.