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# Safe
- URL: https://dianaludwick.com/safe/
- Published: 2026-05-13T11:16:03.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T20:08:41.000Z
- Description: “Safe,” written Wednesday, May 13, poem 133 in a series of 365 poems written by Diana Ludwick in 2026. Photo, Safe-T-Cup-Holder in the Loo," by Diana Ludwick (c) 2026.
- Author: Diana Ludwick
- Tags: 2026 Poetry Challenge, Generational, Poems, Rants, #Migrated-1792872215677, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-10-24 20:03

What does it mean to feel Safe?  
Don't ask a woman;   
we could not often tell you.  
  
What it feels like to be Unsafe?   
The lack of safety, the absence of peace?   
This is our de facto state,   
our homeostasis of cortisol and darting eyes.  
  
What we could write on this,   
could fill infinite Libraries of Alexandria.  
Which we, with nary a persuading  
from Caesar necessary —  
could be inclined to torch,   
spreading embers on sacred scrolls,  
turning dark knowledge   
of men's misdeeds into airborne ashes,   
lighting the way from from the wars of men   
to the illumination of the Matriarchy.  
  
What has my thoughts on fire tonight?  
It's my revelation that   
the lump of molded black plastic  
that is anchored to the side   
of my slim public restroom stall  
— right above the loo's swirling waters —  
is meant for me to stow my cocktail.   
  
Why would a woman bring a drink   
into the toilet with them?   
Let's unpack that.  
  
Because leaving a drink  
unattended in the theatre  
is *Asking For It.*  
  
This tony theatre in the heart of D.C.  
has chosen to invest in   
stow-while-you-wee-devices  
instead of beefing up on security.  
  
Because the management has decided   
it would be impossible for a woman  
to walk away for seven minutes  
in search of a bio break at intermission  
and come back to her seat to find  
an unadulterated drink awaiting her.  
  
When Women's Perma-Vigilance   
is systematically manufactured into our culture,   
rather than holding out  
an expectation of Men's Civility,  
we have already lost.  
  
Not all Men.   
But so many.  
  
Not all Men cause harm  
but nearly no Women go unharmed.  
  
I hate this, and I want to reject it.  
But then,  
I stare at my own pant-covered legs  
in the reflection of the loo wall.  
  
And I am confronted.  
Reminded with this evidence  
that I consciously picked my outfit  
to be Rape Resistant.  
  
I had earlier in the afternoon,  
selected to wear pants tonight  
over the sequined skirt I had in mind  
because I have but a sole ticket.  
  
Venturing to a nighttime concert alone,  
I have no one to stand guard,  
wide-stance solidly next to me,   
protecting me in dark corners.  
  
And this is why,   
from March 2023 to December 2024,  
some lucky women of the world experienced  
a fleeting phenomena: the feeling of safety.   
  
As so many news articles   
and social media posts attested,   
concertgoers at the Taylor Swift Eras tour   
never felt so safe   
as being surrounded by 76,000 strangers.  
  
Because on those nights,   
in those glittering,   
sequined and beaded bracelet-filled stands,   
the Women — and Theys and Gays — were in charge.   
  
And to my knowledge,   
during that tour,   
millions upon millions of women   
were able to turn to the female   
stranger next to them and say,   
"Would you do me a solid and watch my drink?   
I'll be right back; ya want anything from the Merch stand?"  
  
And they came back to a safe drink,   
and a happy seat,   
and a warm embrace of joy.