POEM: O' WHAT A PITY #InternationalWomensDay
POEM: O' WHAT A PITY | #InternationalWomensDay
Hey Lovelies,
I am one of the finalists for a poetry contest by Poetry Battles (Instagram: @poetrybattles). Our final round was a 48 Hour Challenge.
The instruction was: ‘‘Write a poem using a line, concept or theme from a famous black poet. In your caption, include the line that you used, the poet, and explain the direction that you took with your final submission’’.
This is my submission for @poetrybattles Game 15 - Round 3. #pb15BlackPoet
The famous poet I chose was Lucille Clifton. She was an American poet and the Poet Laureate of Maryland between 1979 and 1985, amongst many other awards and recognitions. I was inspired by Lucille Clifton's poem: "1994". Especially the ending of the poem which reads:
"have we not been good children
did we not inherit the earth"
This last verse made me think of how women are often seen as "second class citizens" on this Earth. The many ways that women have been and unfortunately, are still being mistreated based on their gender. So the direction I decided to take my poem is that of the experience of women/ black women as it pertains to sexism and misogyny. The poem highlights the desire of a man to be cared for and nurtured by a woman even when he withholds the same care, concern or respect from her, looks down on her and doesn't want her to have the successes and privileges he enjoys. It points out how some men have a misplaced sense of pride that stands on the silencing or suppression of women.
#InternationalWomensDay #HappyInternationalWomensDay
POEM: O' WHAT A PITY
[Bridget E. Ukeni]
you walk across my dignity
like the litter across the city
you walk across my pride
like an empty street sign on the far east side
i tend to your broken knee
i tend to your empty belly
yet you're never happy
until I'm down and shabby
you don't feel like a man
until my peace has got up and ran
does the sound of my voice offend you
does the sound of my joy inflame you
when I'm down in a pit
you say you can hardly sit
you say you'll do anything
anything to get me back on my feet
when I climb real high
you go huffing and puffing
you hide yourself away and let out a sigh
i often wonder why you hate
when i'm soaring and winning
does my freedom belittle you
does my smile come to you as a wicked surprise
when you've got a ache
i run to the lake
i get food, I get herbs
i sleep by your side until you wake
when my spine is split in two
you look the other way
you go singing and grinning from ear to shoe
as if I wasn't in harm's way
does my pain tickle you
does my suffering soothe or amuse you
i often wonder if the crime was me being born
i often wonder why you're willing to see me die
what a pity
have I not been good to you
have we not been good to you
o' what a pity
did we not give birth to you
Thanks for stopping by the blog. Please come say hi in the comment section.
What is your favourite line from this poem?
Ladies, how did you celebrate International Women’s Day?
Live boldly and unapologetically. You are enough!
Love and laughter,
Bridget.