Don't Call Me

I overheard two teachers calling me a precocious little shit when I was 11 and I know how to hold grudges .

Don’t call me precocious

Or suggest I have grown too big for these boots

We both know these boots weren’t meant for feet that want to grow

And Explore

And find something more than what this small town has to offer

Don’t call me a dyke Just because I got kissing Sarah Summers behind the bikeshed

I also really want to kiss boys behind the bikeshed

So I guess that means I’m not a dyke

Don’t call me a slag

Because of all the boys I’ve kissed behind the bikeshed

They are teaching me that my body is currency and they are the ones with buying privilege

Don’t call me a fridge

Because I refuse to kiss you behind the bikeshed

Even slags have standards

Don’t call me a liar I meant it when I said I’d love you forever

But I was 14 and sometimes people change

Don’t call me strange

Because I don’t fit into the boxes society has made for me

Don’t call my flaky or tell me I have lost my sparkle

I know I said we’d meet today but the world seems scary

And angry

I can’t trust anything past my bedroom door

Maybe instead of calling me flaky you should ask if I’m ok

Don’t call me crazy

Because I figured you out for the manipulative cunt you are

Don’t call me two faced

I have learnt things and my politics have changed

Don’t tell me I and drowning in Heterosexual privilege

Because I won’t let you

Touch my clitoris

I know it is easier for me than it ever has been for you

But it has never been easy for me

Still have scars from where they pulled the hair from my scalp

And besides I still really want to fuck women in bikesheds so I guess I’m not heterosexual

Don’t call me a feminazi because I won’t stop screaming about equality

Don’t call me a hypocrite because my feminist politics don’t match up with my bedroom antics

I can be a feminazi in the street

And a Slut in the sheets

And that’s got nothing to do with you baby

Don’t call me a slut

Unless I ask you to

Really really nicely

Don’t call me greedy

Because I don’t buy into your idea of the gender binary or monogamy

Don’t tell me I can’t have my cake and eat it

What is the point of cake If no one’s going to eat it

Don’t call me bubbly

If you mean lively and friendly and vibrant then say that

Because when I hear bubbly I hear

Annoying and fat

And I don’t want you to call me that

Don’t call me fat

Only I’m allowed to call me fat

And when I call me fat

Don’t say “Katie you’re not fat you’re beautiful” I happen to believe I can be both

Don’t call me beautiful

Unless you’re willing to list several things about me you find beautiful

Including my personality

Because honey these insecurities

Run really really deep

Don’t call me difficult

Because I’m not willing to let you call me

Whatever you feel like calling me

I have and always will be a

Precocious Little Shit

And I’m not willing to fit into your dictionary definition of me