by Linda K. Sienkiewicz
To the pediatrician who insisted on taking a rectal temperature with me across his knees,
To the pediatrician who tweaked my nipples during a physical,
To the neighbor’s grandfather who worked his fingers into my shorts,
To the stranger in Woolworth’s who grabbed my hand to rub against his crotch and ran,
To the boy who called me into the pool for one last swim and tried to drown me,
To the mechanical drawing teacher who rubbed his elbow against my breasts while checking my work,
To the employer who told his female, high-school-aged staff that whoever got the most sales would win an overnight date with him,
To the guy who raced his car through town while I screamed for life from the passenger seat after I said I was breaking up with him,
To the recruiter who told me to wear a short skirt to the job interview,
To the hiring manager who instructed waitress applicants to go heavy on makeup,
To the neurologist who sat on the arm of my chair, pinning me there in nothing but a hospital gown, while discussing my options,
To the employer who gave me a gold necklace but told me never to wear it at work,
To the guy who date raped me in a warehouse loft,
To the guy who parked in the woods and shoved my head into his crotch,
To the guy who said he should rape me after I broke up with him,
I remember every one of you.
Quiet. Quiet piggy.
Linda K. Sienkiewicz is the author of the multi-finalist award-winning novel Love and Other Incurable Ailments, forthcoming novel In the Context of Love, five poetry chapbooks and a children’s picture book. Among her awards are a poetry chapbook and a Pushcart Prize Nomination in poetry. She holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing, and serves as Honorary Director of Detroit Working Writers.
