Sisterhood

A woman comes into a room
with the dress you jewel-eyed
but couldn’t lift off the rack.
Diamonds are too cheap
for a soul like yours.

A woman comes into a room.
You are programmed to
calculate the chasms
between her body,
your body, and the perfect body.
Turn the algorithm off.

A woman comes into a room
with another woman.
They look like they are in love.
You imagine that one of them
is more man than the other
so it makes some sense.

A woman comes into a room
you are renting out.
Her face is the first day of spring.
You send her on her way
before your boyfriend gets home.

A woman comes into a room
wearing a headscarf.
She must be less
liberated than you.

A woman comes into a room
you have grown into like vines.
You tell her to leave
without knowing her name.

A woman comes into a room
without any clothes on.
She must be asking for it.

A woman comes into a room,
tears bleeding from her eyes.
She should control herself.

A woman comes into a room.
You are also a woman.
You smile into her eyes.

Sisterhood.