Pied Version 2.0
This poem is about cis-het men that can't take a hint. I wrote it at 19 when I was living in London and constantly being sexually harassed on the streets, in the train station, at bus stops, in the chicken shop, etc.
If a word is enough for the wise
Why isn't it enough for the guys
Who swarm around like flies
Who don't understand "goodbye"
Will you get it if I don't reply?
Do you see my eye rolls and sighs
Must you speak to every passerby?
If you don't chat me up will you die?
What does your presence provide?
Ego, entitlement and insistence aside?
Bitch you killed my vibe
No congratulations, no "at least you tried"
Go home don't bother anyone else
You've been pied.
Image Description
A sign that says wrong way in white against a red background.
For version 2.0 I removed ableist slur "i*iocy" and replaced it with insistence and took out a line referring to a person's appearance. The bad behaviour is enough to comment on and how patriarchy has emboldened cis-het men I didn’t need to resort to ableism or insulting someone's looks as they contribute to the social hierarchies that had me so aggravated and lead to more violence.
Please note there is no audio version of version 2.0 yet.
Pied Version 1.0 If a word is enough for the wise
Why isn't it enough for the guys
Who swarm around like flies
Who don't understand "goodbye"
Will you get it if I don't reply?
Do you see my eye rolls and sighs
Must you speak to every passerby?
If you don't chat me up will you die?
What does your presence provide?
Ego, entitlement and id**cy aside?
Bitch you killed my vibe
You're wrong, ug*y and fried.
No congratulations, no "at least you tried"
Go home don't bother anyone else
You've been pied.
This poem is about cis-het men that can't take a hint. I wrote it at 19 when I was living in London and constantly being sexually harassed on the streets, in the train station, at bus stops, in the chicken shop, etc. Wherever I was there always seemed to be one person feeling entitled to my time because we happened to be in the same place. They were emboldened by patriarchy of course and I hated it. I don't relate much to this poem anymore (I'm inside) The audio version is incredible would recommend 10/10. I want us to share our stories and realities. I want to know more about marginalised people so if any of my work is alienating or discriminatory please let me know and the poem will be taken up a version with an explanation so we can all learn together. Love from a lover x
Love, Builder of Worlds
Katlego
Love, Builder of Worlds
Love, Builder of Worlds
Love, Builder of Worlds
Love, Builder of Worlds
Katlego