No, this is not a happy poem
Nor one filled with love
It is a deeper look into
Where self doubt springs from

It starts with,  ‘you can’t do that’
Because ‘you are a little girl’
It moves on to ‘there is no room’
For ‘those like you’ in this world

‘You’re too dumb to be a doctor
Too slow to win the race’
Not pretty enough for a date
‘Just cover up that face’

‘We won’t pay you what your worth
Step to the back of the room’
You have no power over your life
Not even over your womb

You hear these things long enough
You begin to believe the words
They slither down into your soul
Where they can create the most hurt

Self doubt is not a rite of birth
But rather a learned behavior
A lesson taught by the weakest ones
Desperately afraid of failure  

It’s time, my dear, take them to school
Show them what you’re all about
Put on that crown, stand up tall
To hell with all that self doubt.