To the man in the pink shirt

By River Lathers | @riverlathers

You say it’s my problem

You in the pink shirt

With the kids on your phone lock screen

My age, or even younger

You keep looking my way

Staring for a few seconds

And then looking back

Making eye contact

And then holding it

Even though I shake my head no

I tell you that it makes me uncomfortable

And now you say it’s my problem

That I shouldn’t be here

If I people looking at me

makes me uncomfortable

But I say

I kept my sweatshirt on

because of you

I shook my head at you

I gave you discouraging looks

And you kept going

And I’ve had enough

So I will not apologize for speaking up

Even though you complain about me

to your friends

and move several spots away

I will speak up again and again

and again and again

Now I take my sweatshirt off

I dance, happily

My body is mine

And I will speak up for it

Fuck you

For thinking my body is yours

It is mine

And mine alone