Not Nice
Mama, you told me that hitting wasn't nice.
So why, when I told the teacher he was too rough with me,
did she say he must have a crush on me?
I don't like playing with him at recess anymore.
Mama, you told me that name-calling wasn't nice.
So why do the boys taunt and tease us as our bodies are changing?
We can't control it yet they say things that make us feel bad.
Mama, you told me to talk out my problems; don't raise my voice. Yelling wasn't nice.
Does anyone else's mama tell them that or is it just you?
The boys are the loudest when they're mad.
Mama, you tell me that Daddy loves you.
So why does he do all the things to you that you say aren't nice?
Do you only do that when you get married?
Mama, why don't you tell Daddy that's not nice?
-Alexandra Borriello, 4/26/2018
So why, when I told the teacher he was too rough with me,
did she say he must have a crush on me?
I don't like playing with him at recess anymore.
Mama, you told me that name-calling wasn't nice.
So why do the boys taunt and tease us as our bodies are changing?
We can't control it yet they say things that make us feel bad.
Mama, you told me to talk out my problems; don't raise my voice. Yelling wasn't nice.
Does anyone else's mama tell them that or is it just you?
The boys are the loudest when they're mad.
Mama, you tell me that Daddy loves you.
So why does he do all the things to you that you say aren't nice?
Do you only do that when you get married?
Mama, why don't you tell Daddy that's not nice?
-Alexandra Borriello, 4/26/2018