Would things have been easier
had she been born a man?
However comforting to her tormentors,
the notion remained an absurd one.
Had she not run guns and smuggled ivory,
bought prostitutes and harbored heretics,
and jeered at the occasional infanticide?
The eyes have it, both for and against.
Easy, and as comforting, but doubt
ashes the lash, and the sting will not
wash out with spit and dab.
The exception that proves nothing,
schoolgirl scrawl in textbook’s margin
boadicae loves those wild horses!