man hands by Valentine

i wear rings.

i decorate my hands like a strong man’s—

like a king’s.

my hands aren’t dainty,

they’ve never been pretty,

but they can look strong.

but i’m not a man.

i want to have the power of a man,

even though i am not one.

however,

the girl i wanted to be is gone,

she never existed at all.

her hands were pretty

she was very pretty.

i am very pretty

but my hands aren’t pretty

but i adorn them with rings

to be strong like a man’s

without being a man

i am not the girl i wanted to be

but i’m not the man i could never be

and i’m glad for both things

i am not the girl my history declared

but i’m not the man i’ll never be

and i’m glad for both things.

i’m not the girl i’ll never be

and i’m not the man i’ll never be

i’m me

and i’m glad for those three things

and for my man hands

and for my rings

and that i’m very pretty.

i am very pretty.