I wouldn’t want you
In my foxhole
Because you’re pretty
And I shouldn’t have
To worry about defending you
During times of war

I tighten my lips
Stare at you silently
And shrug off the annoyance I feel
Like I always do when
I hear this shit

Who cares if I’m “pretty”
If the soldier next to you is “pretty”
Beauty is only skin deep
Patriotism is hot in the blood
Bleeds from the heart

That is the making
Of a fine soldier
Not the brawn of muscle
Or the organ inside your pants

Hiding behind a mask of chivalry
You sigh heavily and ask
How we as a society
Can change these attitudes
Now that women serve
In combat roles
(Which they’ve already been doing)

I look down at my lap
Enraged
The answer is so simple
That I laugh under my breath

Raising my chin
I look you squarely in the eye
“Guys need to get over themselves”