Consent is not a whisper.
Not a silent nod.
Not an empty hearted shrug.
Or defeated sure.
Consent is a roaring yes.
Clear and consise.
To be heard over drunken slurs
and date night advances.
Consent does not exist
within groping hands
or passive persuasions.
It cannot be bought.
It cannot say yes with childhood still
hanging out it's pockets.
It doesn't need any grooming.
Consent is grown enough to groom itself.
It does not not say yes
through "exposed" or "provocative" bodies.
It doesn't matter that consent was given to a friend of a friend.
It does not agree
just because you want it to.
It does not say yes
late into the night
on the way home alone
or in bathrooms at boisterous parties.
The bodies response is not consents dead give away.
It is a gift,
not a given.
Consent is not a guessing game.
It is not a "she asked for it" or a "he said yes before."
Consent is never maybe.
Consent will always let it's yes be yes.
And it's no be no.
So if you have to question it
even for a moment
your best bet
is keeping your hands to yourself.
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