African woman…

In comemoration of International Women’s day…

I am a woman and I am proud

I am a wife and a mother

At the core of my bieng is to care and nuture those around me

They are not people I know but my instincts say I must

And I do

I suffer at the hands of men who see me as a sex object;

Others believe I am the weaker species;

Yet another takes me as a punching bag and in their hands I suffer;

I, very often, become “the grass that suffers” when men wage war against each other

I work in the fields to bring food to the home

I walk long distance to seek medical health

I prepare my home so that it is always welcoming

I nurture and love my children so they can be better people when adults

I  hurt most and cry most when death strikes my loved ones

I multi-task.

A time has come when I look at myself closely,

Not at my circumstances,

Not at what I did or didn’t do;

Not at how unfair life has been;

I look at myself in all my glory and imperfection

The harsh sun on my back in the fields;

The long walk to make a better life for my family

I have known pain and pleasure;

I have known good and evil;

I have known hate and love;

In glory and pride I say, ” I am a carrier of life and not a channel of death”

But most of all I am a human being

I have my fears and my doubts, but also desires

I crave love and affection.

I look back in sorrow

I look around in worry

But with faith, I look up and say “I have survived!”

What did not kill me has made me stronger.

I am an African woman.