Her eyes, more than her lips will ever do,
Scream a scarcity of self-esteem.
She is stranded; she is chained.
When her tongue moves to talk,
All her audience ever does is mock.
Mortified, she searches the wall for a clock,
Hoping that time could outrun a bullet.
It is not her fault
She was taught early on to fear.
She thinks of womanhood as a weakness
And an insurmountable challenge.
She is a victim of surveillance.
Her acts are scanned and criticised,
Society polices her very being,
She lacks space; she needs freedom!
But she will not give up.
She will attempt to speak as many times as she can,
She will rise from the mockery,
She will change her narrative.
At least her reflection says so!
About the Contributor
Anne Gihozo is a passionate and creative poet who strives to be a voice for the people. She believes that writing has a healing effect on both the reader and the writer.
