Call it Anger

call it anger
that’s the oldest trick

take a woman
speaking a clean sentence
strip the thought
dress the tone

oh she’s emotional

watch the men
same blade
same words
same dismantling

suddenly

brilliant
dangerous mind
sharp

they clap the predator
pour him another drink
call it philosophy

but the woman
must have a wound
must have a grievance
must be

frustrated

as if truth
coming out of a woman’s mouth
needs a diagnosis

listen

I am not angry

I am just not playing along
with the theatre

not curtsying
to the emperor’s tailor
not praising the invisible coat

a man calls a lie a lie
they call him bold

a woman calls a lie a lie
they call her a problem

because clarity in a woman
breaks the machinery

the whole polite engine
of nodding
of reputation
of men explaining the obvious
to rooms full of other men

and the easiest way
to neutralise a woman

is not to argue with her
just rename her

call her angry
call her bitter
call her tired

anything

except

right.