She squared her shoulders
Defiance in her eyes
Dared him to touch her one more time
It wasn’t a threat
But a promise he didn’t want fulfilled
She’d marched too far to be denied a place
Not the best place
Not his place
But a place
A place she knew she had the right to be
So, touch her one more time
The first shove came as a shock
The second because she’d resisted
But, she warned, a third time would be his ass
Shove her out of his way?
She moved when she was ready
Not away from him
Nor because of him
But toward greater opportunity
When the time was right for higher ground
She moved swiftly
Like a huntress tracking game
With the gracefulness of a dancer
The skills of a warrior
Each athletic move well-practiced
For nothing did she possess
Had she not earned
She heard him treading heavily behind her
Winded
Life of privilege had not prepared him for this
On his own
Couldn’t touch her now if he’d tried
He who had been given everything
Ill-prepared against those who struggled for anything
Privilege won’t help him now
No one’s above an ass whupping
Whether life beats him down
Or she does
The only thing separating him from one by her hand
Is her sense of civility
Push her one more time
And that option
His safety barrier
Is off the table