I’m Sorry The World Did This To You

Does the world owe an apology
to Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus?

Does the world owe an apology
to Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears?

Does the world owe an apology
to the millions of un-named young girls—
girls with names but no Disney contract—
who have been laid across the anvil
and hammered into glamorous shapes?

Does the world owe an apology
to the girl who only combs her hair
twice a day and then tells everyone
twice a day is enough work for her?

Does the world owe an apology
to the girl who wonders why the fuck
the world should apologize to her?

I’m sorry the world did this to you.

I’m sorry the world gave you the chance
to be this, that, the other thing but
never gave you the chance just to be.

If I were a Disney prince singing
these words all Auto-Tuned and quantized
I’d sing with the voice of John Lennon
and I’d repeat that part that the world
never gave you the chance just to be.

And I’d give a good John Lennon scream
then fade to a coda repeating,
I’m sorry the world did this to you.