It’s Not for You

My cascading locks, my pixie cut

My eyeshadow or lack thereof

My long blonde hair or deep brown mane

My dangly earrings

My bare face

None of it is for you.

You can’t tell me what to do.

That my ass is too big or too small.

That my breasts aren’t to your liking.

That I need makeup.

That I should embrace my feminine side.

That I must wear jewelry or hide my pride.

Because none of it is for you.

I dress for myself.

I’ll wear bright red lipstick or nothing at all.

Beautiful colors even in the fall.

I’ll walk to the beat of my own drum.

I’ll wear long earrings or simple studs

Sometimes all that you’ll see are my beautiful eardrums

But none of it is in your control.

This is my body.

This is my soul.