I promise

I promise

I will not be born
unto this world as
a woman.

That way, my parents
will not have to bear
the burden of
killing me even before
I am born.

I promise

I will be fair. And
I am not talking about
my morals, silly,
but my skin.

I promise

to live as
Auden's Unknown Citizen.

That way, I will
never create a ripple
and maintain
the order of things.

I promise

to not fall in love,
and never get
my heart broken.

That pain might
teach me
to speak.

And women who speak
are rarely forgiven.

I promise

that I won't complain
when unknown hands
grope my body
in a crowded bus,

I wouldn't want
anyone to think
it was my fault.

I promise

I won't create Art,
in any form.

Someone might mistake
my thoughts
for having value.

I promise

to nod my head
up and down
at what everyone says
the truth is,

sideways when
they say it isn't.

I promise

to choose
my religion wisely,
lest people decide
what I am
before I do.

I promise...

But wait!

What if
these promises
were meant to be broken?

And instead of living
beneath a million
unfulfilled promises,

I want to live
the life of Me.