Becoming Woman

right there between My legs
I flow
since the beginning of humanity
a river

as long as the Nile
as ferocious as the Yellow
yet you
pollute it
with ignorance and fear
sexism and arrogance

My Ganges is Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy
it comes from a gorge
straight and honest
welcoming navigation
when I
allow it

yet you
trying to colonise
My Land
My Sacred Land
the Land where you
burst right through
My Scarlet Rain cleansing your wrinkled saggy little face
now you trying to force right in
mansplaining
the otherwise

no sight more painful
than seeing your words
false words
weighting on top of My Mothers, Sisters, Daughters
Sons and Brothers
lingering like haze
choking, belittling Who We Are

yet Words
Words are Our Weapons
let strength flow out from Our Bright Red Lips
let gentleness push against the currents as We crusade the deep waters
let wildness tame century-old rules
stretching terrains
opening up new land
let Words
Women’s Words
flow freely
drowning hate
tearing facades
building each other up
with Resilience