No well wishes, just our scorn and shame
An outcast you are
Keep your hands to yourself!
How dare you tarnish our good name!
No parties for you, young mother-to-be
What you’ve done, is the worst of the worst
Now stand here; confess
Your unrighteousness
As if you are the only—the first
No allies for you, young mother-to-be
They’re here; could speak, but won’t lend a hand
They’ve sealed their old chapters;
Erased from their minds
They day when they stood where you stand
Some are still alone
Their own babies are grown
And your presence has taken them back
To a place of great sorrow
That makes it unreal
How much empathy each of them lack
They were punished, then commenced to beating themselves
Always busy with endless church work
Clothing themselves in whitewash, clichés, and oppression
To mask years of regret and hurt
No compassion for you, young mother-to-be
Let us add to the fear you must feel
Let us fill you with loathing
Of yourself, and not only
Condemn you, with arrogant zeal
No grace for you, young mother-to-be
Though the world has rushed to your aid
Ignore their opinions, and kind offerings
You must stew in the mess you have made
You must be an example, young mother-to-be
You alone, must beg pardon to us
We are blameless, you see
Full of piety
It’s your wickedness we must discuss
Never mind our failure to teach, or protect
Never mind who else is involved
It will always be our stance, mother-to-be
Humiliate you?
Problem solved.
No holding your head high, young mother-to-be
Our traditions and practices rule
We’ll confront you with scorn
‘Til your offspring is born
And utilize every tool
To make you feel worthless, unwanted, inhuman
Your transgression’s on top of our list
Of the sins we broadcast
As we hide our own past
And ponder why heathens are pissed
Now look what you’ve done, young mother-to-be!
Your lack of control has exposed
Our continued fixation
On half of the nation
And who’s at risk when doors are closed
And who will be blamed
And soundly defamed
And treated like loose-living whores
And left to explain
What, to us, is plain-
Why the burden should only be yours.
VRWc2024
No comments:
Post a Comment