‘Sorry, am i boring you?’ - a poem I wrote that many of you sadly have related to. They have invented nail varnish that changes colour if our drinks are spiked Pepper spray and pocket knives disguised as lipstick and moisturiser They have made self defence keychains and cat shaped alarms and stilettos with hidden daggers and rings with pointed blades And they are all bubblegum pink or fluffy Because even when hunted we must be pretty The news tells us to stay safe and our dads and brothers and boyfriends beg we do the same, they even offer to buy us some mace Rather than face the truth which is that it’s probably their mates, that these products won’t help if it comes down to it; me holding a compact mirror that hides a small blade; snapped in half with a foot stamp or lost in the shakiness of my fingers Then we’re told our feminism is misandry that it’s different now and things have changed but name one man who’s googled the price of a self defence key chain who had to click through the colour options, pink, copper or gold, have it sent to your home and unwrap its patterned tissue paper like it’s a gift There should be a note enclosed that reads ‘Hope you don’t get killed this week; hope you stay cute if you do’ #poetrycommunity #poetry #spokenword #spokenwordpoetry