Little Girl

Little Girl
Betsy McKenzie

I suddenly remembered
Watching from distrusting eyes
Tall adults around me.
The almost-relief I would feel,
When the man
Would reveal that near-inevitable
Contempt for female children,
And his own special status as a grown-up male:
“Little girl,” in that special tone.
At least I knew where
We stood.

March 4, 2006