He noticed her scars.

They started small,

but grew as they aged.

The first wound, the smallest one,

appeared on her hand.

When the boy told her that

she hit like a girl.

The second wound, still small,

covered her hip.

She said it appeared when the fifth graderes

told her big brother to stop acting like a girl.

The third wound, an average size,

appeared on her left leg.

When the men cound not seem to stop whistling

and confusing her with someone named "Sweetheart."

The fourth wound, larger than most,

appeared on her head.

When her boss told her she was

"Too Pretty to be Smart."

The fifth wound, the largest of all,

covered her mouth.

It appeared the day she found out 

"feminism"

was a dirty word.