No Means No

A poem that deals with sexualisation, pressure, and consent

my boyfriend wants something i cannot offer
it’s normal though, so why am i bothered?
he tugs at my shirt and begs me “pretty please?” 
his hands creep up and i’m filled with unease

his palms tug at my breasts and there’s an aching in my chest
as i try to do my best to put my subconscious to rest
my vision clouds a bit and as he starts to bite his lip,
i think i may be sick

“but he’s my boyfriend, it’s natural” my subconscious battles
for once, why the hell can’t she cease to prattle?
he pushes up my school uniform: another reminder that this is wrong 
and i tell myself i have to be strong and give him what he wants

but i don’t owe him shit and i don’t have to fit to the rules that society has made
i’m not an object or just another project to waste another desperate boy’s time
he tried to take what is mine: my dignity
and ever since i have felt unworthy
because that is what society has told me. 

​- by Anna Bayne