the way of the world

jessica sreekrisenjee | Spring 2022

What will my daughter think
When I tell her she cannot travel alone
When I tell her to keep a bottle of poison in her possession
When I tell her to feign musical enjoyment on her journey
When I tell her to be seated near other women
When I tell her to keep smaller clothes for private travels
When I tell her to traverse the quicker route
When I tell her to speak kindly to her abuser
When I tell her to keep her whereabouts known
When I tell her to leave before sunset
When I tell her to hold her keys between her fingers
What will my daughter think?

My daughter will gaze at me,
Wondering why she must partake in such ideas
Wondering why she cannot travel in solace
Wondering why she must carry a liquid weapon
Wondering why she cannot daydream with soft notes in her ear
Wondering why she must not sit near a man
Wondering why she cannot dress the way she prefers
Wondering why she must not take the route she pleases
Wondering why she cannot ignore a man with malice
Wondering why she must not travel without her phone in her palm
Wondering why she cannot stay and enjoy the stars
Wondering why she must keep her fingers entwined with metal

I will tell her,
This is the way of the world
A woman must not travel alone
A woman must arm herself
A woman must choose her whereabouts with care
A woman must be cautious of her body
A woman must align her time with the sun
A woman must remain kind to lust
A woman must remain known
A woman must not care about nighttime pleasures
A woman must protect her life
And a man will simply exist.