-WHO IS THIS AFRICAN WOMAN-

-WHO IS THIS AFRICAN WOMAN-

Who is  this  African  Woman?
Don’t  muzzle the  ox,  which  thread  on  the field.
The African  hope  deserves  hope.
Blood  and  pain  for  the girl  of dark  skin.  Worthy  damsel  of blackness.
Test  her worthiness  by  infibulating; Break  her softness  with  the cow  horn.
Force  her maturity  in  streaming  tears  and  racking  pain.
This  is  the African  woman.

Who is  this  African  Woman?
Mother of a continent,  yet  without  formal  content.
Strip  her dignity  by  the brutal  thrusts  of masculine savagery.
Helpless  and  hopeless,  confine  her  to  soothe.
Eyes  breaming  with  smoke,  interlaced  with  tears  that  don’t  flow,
She blows  the coal  of  supper,  yet  this  night  she must  feed  her  body.
This  is  the African  Woman.

Who is  this  African  Woman?
Education  is  not  her price,  maternity  is.
Bouncing  with  hope,  she  toils  the field  without  hope.
I am  a  woman,  I deserve  life  to  live;  Shush,  accustom  to  pain.
Give me a  voice;  No  pass  her around.
Give me a  hope;  Silence  is  your  hope.
This  is  the African  Woman.

Who is  the African  Woman?
Her smile is  like the  sun  rising  above the  hills.
Her seductive ego  says  don’t  look  down  on  me.
This  African  woman,  bearing  her  struggles  with  grace and  love  unending.
Hurt  or unhurt,  she  throngs  on,  seeing  the light  in  the darkest  of  nights.
This  African  woman,  no  rhyme in  her poetry,  just  words.
This  is  the African  Woman.

Who is  this  African  Woman?
That  woman  of Africa:  One  of many  bearing  the pains  of infibulation.
That  woman  of Africa;  One  of the many  without  education.
That  woman  of Africa;  Married  at  14,  pregnant  at  15.
Oh,  heart  cracks;  One  of many  mutilated  and  raped.  It’s  happening!
That  woman  of Africa;  Hanging  on  tomorrow  and  the  hope  it  brings.
This  is  the African  Woman.

Who is  this  African  Woman?
She is  a  fighter,  not  for herself  but  her ones.
She is  a  trooper,  urging  on,  giving  life.
She is  a  hazel,  graceful  and  delectable.
She is  Ajike,  you  wake up  to  pamper.
She was  tortured  by  pain,  yet  victorious  over death. This  is  the African  Woman.

Who is  the African  Woman?
Mobile and  powerful;  Skilled  and  soft.
Despised  and  broken,  delectable and  delightful.
The African  Woman  is  a  survivor.
So  arching,  a many  heartbreak.  So  stronger is  her love.
Her  African  is  the will.  The unbroken  will.
This  is  the African  Woman.

-  *Hagia Pens* -