2011 Issue - Santa Fe Community College

Girl Fight
by Shelly Reed
Where I come from
the hardest thing to do is hit hard
We all try, but our punches come out too soft,
our female bodies rebel too rough a sentiment
We hide bricks behind our backs,
wear long jeans on dangerous days,
never wear earrings too easily grabbed
Our size doesn’t matter,
it is the fear that counts,
makes us strong
and I am adrenaline driven, fierce beyond need
Our anthem, “The fight isn’t over ‘til someone calls 911”
I feel her cheekbone through my shoe, her face is pressed to the road
Her mother says, “Finish it. It’s the only way she will learn.”
There is blood on my jeans,
I must have missed her face once or twice,
hit the road instead
The crowd chants, “kick, kick”,
but I walk away
The next day I wear sunglasses to hide;
a boy says I have a black eye
The rumor says: I am finally defeated
I don’t say a thing, leave the glasses on
Santa Fe Literary Review 95