Womankind

Womankind

Don’t be fooled by what you see,
there is so much more to me.
I am not just a pretty face
please see past my looks, my race.
There is a sadness here in my eyes,
for I can hear all my sisters’ cries.
I hear them in the distant places,
wordless cries from formless faces.
I hear my sisters dying of disease,
I hear my sisters forced to their knees.
I hear you sister, as he pins you down,
I hear you sister, as you hit the ground.
I hear you sisters, from beneath your veils,
I hear you sisters, as your vision fails.
I hear my sisters crying out for change,
I hear my sisters as we are silenced again.
I hear you sisters even if no one else can.
I hear you sisters, I hear you say “I am”.
I am not your possession,
I am not your slave.
I am not your ticket to Heaven,
nor your salvation from the grave.
I am my own person,
I am not yours to play.
I will not be silenced,
yes, I am here to stay.