I’ve been the best-kept secret

in too many men’s mouths.

Not because I whispered

but because they never had the courage

to say my name out loud.

You want to talk about rejection?

Try being the prettiest girl in the room

they pretend not to see.

Try being the smartest mind in the room

they try to fix

by making you smaller.

Try being fat

and everything else they say they want.

Accomplished.

Driven.

Soft-spoken when I want to be,

sharp enough to split bone when I need to be.