no was a bad word in my home
no was met with the lash
erased from our vocabulary
beaten out of our backs
till we became well-behaved kids
who obediently nodded yes to everything

when he climbed on top of me
every part of my body wanted to reject it
but i couldn't say no to save my life
when i tried to scream all that escaped me was silence
i heard no pounding her fist
on the roof of my mouth
begging to let her out
but i had not put up the exit sign
never built the emergency staircase
there was no trapdoor for no to escape from

i want to ask all the
parents and guardians a question
what use was obedience then
when there were hands
that were not mine inside me
--how can i verbalize consent as an adult if i was never taught to as a child