ode to Howl

I saw the best women of my generation knocked down by corporate yes men that carried the stench of cheap cologne and stale cigarettes,
who after arriving early every day and staying back late, who did all the work were left with nothing but a dirty keep cup, twice the work with no extra pay,  
who stayed up late to get peace for themselves, who dealt with pain, heavy dark blood pouring, who was told to suck it up, man up,
who got food on the table, children dressed and to school, pets taken care of, bills paid, houses maintained, families in order, who dared to have it all, who faced the ridicule of others to be better, be thinner, fitter, happier, to smile more!
who had their original ideas stolen by a man wanting to get ahead, who got walked over, who realised business was cut-throat, who kept future ideas protected only to be told by another man that it wasn’t good enough,
who were told they were too emotional when voicing their opinions, who were then told they didn’t care enough, that they were too cold and bitchy,
who called out the archaic patriarchal views of the system, who dared to speak up, who were shut down and stepped on, told to keep their head down, not to make waves, 
who shouted, screamed from the rooftop, the soap box of social media, never to be silenced.

Sarah K. Gill © 2023