Not All Men

A poem about #NotAllMen

#NotAllMen would let me pass
unmolested, sound and safe
or cross the road to ease my mind
show they’re not a risk of rape

#NotAllMen would listen to
our tales of violence and assault
with empathy, sincerity
tell us that it’s not our fault

#NotAllMen would never touch
unless they knew they had consent
respect the boundaries we set
with genuine benign intent

#NotAllMen will join our voices
calling out what has to stop
without taking personal offence
and lashing out in angry strop

#NotAllMen walked on the moon
invented lightbulbs or the trains
but it’s ok to say “men” did that –
apparently it’s not the same.