Verve 2022 | Page 20

Watch Me

Fran Bevan - winner

I will not pull down my skirt As the light begins to fade And I will not avoid the backstreet Or the valley or the underpass
You can yell at me all you want From across the street Wolf whistle from the windows of your cars But I refuse to let a low life like you Stop me from walking home in the dark
Now , take a step back , make that one , two , three Go chase your tail , not me But I remind myself that it ’ s not all men So , I should be safe if I walk carefully enough Don ’ t show too much skin
I am just trying to walk home So don ’ t you dare tell me I ’ m being dramatic -
Hysterical - I am no different from your friend , your wife , your daughter I am not a statistic
I will not be silenced I will not be deceived I am reclaiming the streets , my streets The night , my night
Watch me .