Taking a Stand

One of my favourite expressions is "l'esprit d'escalier" or "staircase wit", obviously because I happen to be an excellent example of this kind of wit. Except that in my case, that wonderful comeback doesn't always come at the bottom of the stairs, but waits till years have passed by and everyone is on the verge of forgetting that conversation. The good thing is that it often comes to me in the form of poetry. So here is another instance of my absolutely sparkling staircase wit! Or rather, the-decade-after wit.


You tell me
That I'm weak
And so I can't be yours.
I've never learned
To take a stand
And so I can't be yours.
A ready-made feminist:
That's what you want.
Ready-made and fitted
To suit your demands.

I know I'm not the one
You are looking for.
Not quite a feminist,
And far from ready-made
Or well-fitted
To take ready-made stands
On your behalf.
No, no, that's not me.
A bit unsure and lost,
Groping around,
Forever searching
For a firm footing,
And forever digging
At its very foundations.
That's more like me.
Yes, I know I can't be yours.

You tell me
That I'm weak
And I can't take a stand.
You tell me
That I'll learn, but for now,
I just don't make the cut.
But what would you do
If I finally learnt
How to throw it all away,
And took a stand
Pointing my finger at you?