The Perfect Predators

The Patriarchy

Many men can’t accurately clock threats

Because they ARE the fucking threats

Prowling through grocery aisles

Parking lots

Night clubs

Bedrooms

Stalking their prey in broad daylight

While the world watches

Forget gladiator spectacles

The oldest form of entertainment:

Femme torture porn

Socially acceptable performance art

Nothing like the normalized cruelty

Of drawing blood

While telling a woman to smile

Lustfully pursuing and harming her

In the same breath

“Our job is to PROTECT women!”

Protect women from WHO??

Bears? Wolves? Themselves?

I’ve never met a woman

Who is incapable of defending herself

Sure, men are “good” at reacting

In the aftermath of violence

But what steps are they taking

To prevent it from ever happening?

How many men turn a blind eye

When their buddies are the predators?

They turn a cold shoulder to victims

Take an ice pick to their lives

Turn their trauma and sexuality

Against them

How many men tell women

That they will kill for them

But when push comes to shove

They don’t even believe them?

They gaslight and downplay

Dismiss threats because they 

Don’t feel threatened

Way, way, way too many of them

I honestly can count on one hand

Men I’ve known who didn’t end up

Eventually betraying me

For their brotherhood blood bonds

Breaking every promise of protection

Like they broke me

News flash: when you’re part

Of the predator group

Holding the most power

You’re not the direct target of patriarchy

Just because it hasn’t happened to you

Doesn’t mean it isn’t happening

“I would kill for y—“

Okay, but will you do the dishes?

Will you wipe the fucking toilet seat

And leave the lid down?

Will you stop demanding hours and years

Of free emotional labor from women

Who patiently spoon feed you knowledge

While you spit it back in their faces?

Will you take criticism to heart?

Grow your emotional intelligence?

Stop weaponizing your incompetence?

Actually believe women?

I would pick a bear in the woods

Over a strange man in the city

A familiar man in sheepskin

In my bedroom

Every day, every time

Because y'all are the perfect predators