in the spirit of education
indignation, condemnation
here is some hopefully helpful instruction
never you forget
to ask permission
never you forget
that any hint of sex
ought to be on at least one condition
that is
it ought to be the product of sweet
safe, communication
with mutual contribution
ought to come after a tender
“may I?”
“can I?”
“touch you there?”
“touch you here?”
slow rumble, to desired eruption
yes
please
it is to be respected
never to be neglected
consent
must be present
in any sexual event
consent sounds like
a soft silky sober whisper
an absence of all danger
and pay attention to the rest:
an enthusiastic “yes”
those assaulted
are often asked
whether they managed to say no
given we know
how fear can go
you can do your best
by focusing on whether
they’ve managed to say yes
remember the capacity
to consent with alacrity
is not a “nice to have”
rather, an absolute necessity
a sleeping or incapacitated
aggravated, medicated
debilitated, or sedated
person cannot want you
cannot be enthused
and cannot exercise their right
to refuse
ease
into it, or
ease up off me
ease
intuit
or ease up off we
In honor of April: sexual assault awareness and poetry month | #MeToo
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