She came up to me as she walked past
There in the back of the room during exercise class
Me active following along doing the workout moves
She unrecognized an unfamiliar face not participating.
I looked at her as she spoke round face with white hair
Heard her tell me I had my harem around me
And I frowned back without pausing as she walked away
Feeling put off confused and disturbed by her remark.
She was aware as I am aware I am among women there
One of the few men at the senior center in the class
Where my moves seem awkward among the practiced ones
Where at times I feel out of place like an interloper misfit.
I do not expect to hear a sexist joke from a woman
Expecting I would be amused and pleased
As a kind of backhanded welcome to me in this group
That would make me complicit in oppressing women.
And who am I to deny having lived with the advantage
Being male in a world where patriarchy is in everything
Where fear of rape and violence against women is palpable
Even in this room of warm bodies in exercise clothes.
If only a single pronoun were sufficient for all of us
Like the way children might be if they were dressed as neutral
Before puberty hormones engender her adult shape
And the difference outlines their history of exploitation.
