To the men (content: mild expletives, reference to rape)

[Franklin'sMan]

I enjoyed this. It works pretty well as a spoken piece because it is accusatory (in the beginning). In fact, I like the accusatory part best and think you carried it off the best. If you were to clip it there that'd be alright with me, though I suppose it would lose the positive uplift. But I like a good negative uplift - a big 'fuck you, you can't keep me down' to the face.

I've added to many lines below my restatement of the line. My reasons are sometimes for variety, rhythm, landing the stress on the more meaningful words (producing a more forceful expression). It's always for you to decide what, if any, you like.

First post 
It's more spoken word/much less beautiful and articulate than what I've read on here so far, but it's the only style I can write in! 

To the men 


To the men who have done me harm 

I see you. 
I know you. 
Your crimes have been documented, 
etched in my mind, 
kept captive in silence. 

No more. 
You are known. 
Your stories have been told. 
Aloud. 
I am not the bearer of your secrets I do not bear your secrets
or your lies 
anymore. 
I have shed that skin like the snake you are. I've shed that skin like the snakes you are.
I have set down that burden. I 've set that burden down.
You have not won.
My heart and mind are mine. My mind and heart are mine.
We serve each other, body and soul -- we don't serve you. They serve each other, my body and soul -- they don't serve you. 
I am not yours to sample or consume. I'm not for your consumption.
I am neither delicacy nor indelicacy.  I'm neither delicacy nor indelicate.
I am not meek, hiding from your fists and dicks I'm not hiding from your fists and dicks
anymore. 

I am whole woman, full of power and creation 
Shakti 
full of Kali's destruction/transformation <-- Ohhh, I like the juxtaposition of destruction/transformation - and I me love some Indian images.
Two sides of one coin. 
I am holy. 
I am sacred. 
Consecrated, not desecrated, ground. Consecrated. Not desecrated ground.
You, 
the bringers of bad news and bruises and babies no one wanted, the bringers of bad news and bruises and babies unwanted,
you have not won. 
I am not beaten up I am not broken down
or broken down. or beaten up.
I am alive with passion, pleasure, pain, perception -and- compassion. 
Because when there is nothing left to lose, you give nothing or you give all. ...you give your nothing or your all.
I gave all to this journey you set me on, softening sharp edges, And I have given all ...
opening eyes and heart and mind to the idea that there is 
So. 
Much. 
More. 
To. 
Life. 
Than you.
You told me it was all black and white and shade of grey -- and I found color anyway. You told me it was all just... -- but I found color anyway.
I win. 

To the men who have loved me To the men who've done me good

You brave souls that stepped in when I was decimated. Brave souls stepping in when I was decimated,
Hated - by self and others. and hated even by myself.
Alone, enraged, and so damn scared I could barely stand straight. 
You are the flickering flames that lit this path, 
warmed my skin, 
calmed my fears.
 
You. 
Are. 
Love. 
Love divine, love incarnate, love physical and metaphysical. 
Love without bounds or limits, 
concessions or conditions. 
It pours from your pores like balm. 
It coats me. 
Soothes my sores, washed clean by love. 

You. 
Are. 
Love. 
Love abiding, love patient, love kind. 
You sat by my unlocked cage and waited ever so faithfully, You sat beside my open cage
waiting faithfully
talking through the bars, 
until I set myself free. 
Me. 
I did it. 
You are not saviors or white knights. You're not saviors nor white knights.
You did not lend me your power for my protection. 
You are sages, guides who guided me to my own light, 
my own flame. 
You did not roar for me You didn't sing for me
but with me 
until I could carry the tune myself.  'til I carried the tune myself.
You are the soil in which I take root, 
building the blooms I want to show the world. growing the bloom I want in the world.
Glimpsing your own divinity is not so hard, really, 
when it is reflected in the eye of one who can already see it. when reflected in the eyes of those who see it clearly. 

So, here you can see I've made zero changes. I've only offered some suggestions that might only please my own asthetic. Toss whatever you don't like. Personally, I got plenty of satisfaction from your original - especially the first half.