There was a young child whose start in life had a hand over her mouth.
Be a good girl and don’t cause problems
Be a good girl and do what you are told
There was a young girl whose entry into puberty had a hand over her mouth
Be a good girl and don’t rock the boat
Be a good girl and stop talking so much
There was a young woman whose entry into young adulthood had a hand around her neck
Be a good girl and it won’t hurt so much
Be a good girl and just be what you are told
There was a woman whose entry into full bloom is being marked by tearing at the hand shaped scars that conceal her voice
She is a good woman
She listens closely
She has ridden the wave and broke through the surface
She whispers when she should scream
She bears the scars of the wounds seen and unseen
She tried to be everything that she was asked
and found she was nothing, it did not make her worthy
Standing Still at the Speed of Light 