Mabh Savage
Words and the world passing by; how it sings to me; how I clamour back.
Going in Pairs
Lads roll their eyes
When they see us pop
To the loo in pairs
Easy to be blasé
When you’ve never been groped
And had no one believe you
Never been pinned against a wall
Never been leered at
With no one to back you up
Never stalked in a dark corridor
Like some sort of prey,
Weak only because
Of foolish patriarchy
That somehow thinks
We would make these things up
Like it’s jolly to say
‘I was touched’
‘I was hurt’
‘I was raped’
Who says these things for fun?
Not all men! Comes the cry.
Of course, and likewise
Not all women lie.
So don’t begrudge us
The fragile safety net of
Going in pairs.
Mabh Savage 