Once Upon A Time
Once upon a time she stood behind while he walked
She had to obtain permission before she could talk
Once upon a time she was only a human bridge
Expected to marry a stranger and bear him his kids
Once upon a time, she was expected to cover her hair
Because he might see it, lose control, and fall to despair
But there are they who still seek to over-speak her voice
When she declares that these “old-fashioned” things are her choice
Once upon a time when she veiled it all, everything but her eyes,
Men thought her full presence would darken the heavenly skies
Once upon a time when she showed off her bare breast
They told her she was created impure, and to cover her chest
Once upon a time when she flaunted her biological curves
People told her she was fat, and derided the depth of her nerve
But time after time what many people have failed to perceive:
The choice should be hers to decide what of hers you get to see
Once upon a time society said she only had real value
If she carried a child, cooked your meals, or kept house for you
Once upon a time when she gathered and asked for the vote
The public called her cause immoral, unladylike, and used the word “no”
Once upon a time there were hypotheses that science must prove she was less
She rose to the challenge, exceeded the standards, and passed every test
But they failed to give her the reward of equal mind and cheated her pay
And gave the job to someone less qualified or skilled anyway
Once upon a time she dared to seek pleasure without wanting a baby
You told her she was defective, not useful, and labeled her crazy
Once upon a time when she earned her way and money herself
You said she was selfish to want to share a family with no one else
Once upon a time when she chose to love a woman and not a man
You denied her feelings, said it was an illness, and called her subhuman
But it was never really about the choice of who she should love
Because for you the only real mandate had to be sent from above
Once upon a time when he couldn’t make her his own
He had her imprisoned and chained to his self-righteous throne
Once upon a time they questioned her standing to impugn her natural grace
They cut her, shamed her, discounted her, and threw acid in her face
Once upon a time when she made it clear that, No! She declined
You took her words to mean nothing—destroyed body and mind
Disregarded her right to refuse the onslaught of defiling advances
And lied that she sent you smoke signals through clothing and dances
Once upon a time women crafted dialogue and wrote their own tales
But the meanings were changed, common ignorance prevailed
Once upon a time psychologists, religion, and critics all missed the boat
It is not about what you, I, or they think that She wants to emote
Once Upon a time when Her voice carries her words, dreams, and desires
Misunderstandings will not continue to grow, thrive, or transpire
Let her clarify her positions and needs from her lips if you doubt
She doesn’t need a biased interpreter to twist her words all about
Once upon a time, freedom was gleaned and she climbed, achieved, persisted, and dreamed
That all women would finally be included, heard, respected, celebrated, and seen
Once upon a time when a movement arose, a very inclusive story was told
It was an open idea that a woman had a choice to be leaders, creative, passive, or bold
Once upon a time it encompassed the rights of all who are women inside
So they could come into the light, spread their wings, and not have to hide
The story unfolds with each new woman born to take up existence and move it along
And without Her contribution, the world’s happily ever after will only go wrong.
She had to obtain permission before she could talk
Once upon a time she was only a human bridge
Expected to marry a stranger and bear him his kids
Once upon a time, she was expected to cover her hair
Because he might see it, lose control, and fall to despair
But there are they who still seek to over-speak her voice
When she declares that these “old-fashioned” things are her choice
Once upon a time when she veiled it all, everything but her eyes,
Men thought her full presence would darken the heavenly skies
Once upon a time when she showed off her bare breast
They told her she was created impure, and to cover her chest
Once upon a time when she flaunted her biological curves
People told her she was fat, and derided the depth of her nerve
But time after time what many people have failed to perceive:
The choice should be hers to decide what of hers you get to see
Once upon a time society said she only had real value
If she carried a child, cooked your meals, or kept house for you
Once upon a time when she gathered and asked for the vote
The public called her cause immoral, unladylike, and used the word “no”
Once upon a time there were hypotheses that science must prove she was less
She rose to the challenge, exceeded the standards, and passed every test
But they failed to give her the reward of equal mind and cheated her pay
And gave the job to someone less qualified or skilled anyway
Once upon a time she dared to seek pleasure without wanting a baby
You told her she was defective, not useful, and labeled her crazy
Once upon a time when she earned her way and money herself
You said she was selfish to want to share a family with no one else
Once upon a time when she chose to love a woman and not a man
You denied her feelings, said it was an illness, and called her subhuman
But it was never really about the choice of who she should love
Because for you the only real mandate had to be sent from above
Once upon a time when he couldn’t make her his own
He had her imprisoned and chained to his self-righteous throne
Once upon a time they questioned her standing to impugn her natural grace
They cut her, shamed her, discounted her, and threw acid in her face
Once upon a time when she made it clear that, No! She declined
You took her words to mean nothing—destroyed body and mind
Disregarded her right to refuse the onslaught of defiling advances
And lied that she sent you smoke signals through clothing and dances
Once upon a time women crafted dialogue and wrote their own tales
But the meanings were changed, common ignorance prevailed
Once upon a time psychologists, religion, and critics all missed the boat
It is not about what you, I, or they think that She wants to emote
Once Upon a time when Her voice carries her words, dreams, and desires
Misunderstandings will not continue to grow, thrive, or transpire
Let her clarify her positions and needs from her lips if you doubt
She doesn’t need a biased interpreter to twist her words all about
Once upon a time, freedom was gleaned and she climbed, achieved, persisted, and dreamed
That all women would finally be included, heard, respected, celebrated, and seen
Once upon a time when a movement arose, a very inclusive story was told
It was an open idea that a woman had a choice to be leaders, creative, passive, or bold
Once upon a time it encompassed the rights of all who are women inside
So they could come into the light, spread their wings, and not have to hide
The story unfolds with each new woman born to take up existence and move it along
And without Her contribution, the world’s happily ever after will only go wrong.
~Danielle Grace
RSS Feed
