The Spaces In Between

[Edited to add: This poem and “It Was Snowing” have now been published by Radical Teacher, along with a teaching note about collaborative writing with students. See more here.]

If I were not afraid I would

say how I feel, speak my mind, talk more about my opinions,
tell my story,
speak back to men in power.

I would be more resilient
I would not doubt myself,
I would not be limited,
I would go out anywhere, anytime,
I would be more at ease,
I would take more risks.

I would sky-dive,
sky-dive,
sky-dive,
and swim with sharks.

I would travel the world for a year,
I would study abroad.
I would move to Colorado or New Zealand or California,
move away as soon as I graduate.
I would buy a ticket to Budapest and never come back.
Quit school and travel the world,
travel the world after graduation.

I am afraid to fail, it keeps me going.

I would do things alone,
walk alone at night,
travel by myself,
make new friends.

I don’t know, I have never experienced a lack of fear.

Change my major or not continue college,change my future.
I would become a politician, be on city council,
be a game tester, be an artist for a living,
join the navy,spend 6 months with my family
in Jamaica every year.

I would try new foods, wear bright colors,
get married to my fiance and finish college where he is stationed,
organize huge movements in places like Pakistan
and raise awareness about sexual assault.

I would learn to fly an airplane,
I wouldn’t wear make-up every day,
I would make the first move, be proud
to wear clothing that makes me feel sexy.

I would go after my dreams,
have adventures at night.

I would walk away from everything that makes me second guess myself.

I would be bold in my interactions, participate more, be fearless.
I would not hesitate, I would take more chances,
be independent.
I would be confident of who I really am,
and embrace my femininity rather than hiding it.
I wouldn’t be a people pleaser,
I would ask for a raise.
I would get an industrial piercing,
wear whatever I want, whenever I want.

I would smile at men,
I would be more outgoing and make connections,
I would major in music,
try to become a musician,
and ask the girl I’m talking to to be my girlfriend.

I wouldn’t carry pepper spray,
I could walk by myself alone at night,
I’d leave my apartment more, I wouldn’t feel anxious
and unsafe all the time.

I would be able to walk with my headphones in
without looking over my shoulder.
I would enjoy the little things.
I would travel the world and go on dangerous adventures,
no worrying about making something of myself
or about financial troubles.

If I were unafraid, I would have let him go before he had the chance to hurt me.
If I weren’t afraid, I wouldn’t mind being lonely.
If I weren’t afraid of certain animals, I would be a vet.
If I hadn’t been afraid, high-school could have been different for me.

If you conquer fear, then you conquer death.
I used to be afraid of everything,
now I try to live without fear.
Not without caution, but without fear.

I would walk to the woods alone at night
and sit in the beauty of darkness.

–Arranged by Jessica Ann Vooris based on responses from students in WMST 233: International Women’s Perspectives to the question “What Would You Do If You Were Not Afraid.”

Cover photo by John Gibbons on Unsplash.