Wednesday, 6 July 2016

An Ode to the Feminist Movement

by Mia Wells


Do not dare to make me a lesser kind

Because at last you may begin to find

That my voice, my power, goes beyond words

And that you do not define my self-worth

When the privileged have come out to play

Out on the streets to belittle my name

Calling me out because I am the strong

To shout the kitchen is where I belong

Saying I should not go out ‘dressed like that’

Or that there’s ‘no such thing as a wage gap’

A domestic cage is where you keep me

In hope I am not heard and only seen

You’ve hurt my sisters for rejecting you

For looking imperfect, for being true

To themselves and embracing liberty

For leaving you, and your patriarchy.

We are birds, who sing for equality,

Perched on olive branches or flying free.

Not caring for your traditional roles

We do not care if we don’t fit your mould

Of the perfect being, the perfect wife

When we know want more in our lives

Than to stand by your side, passive and meek

As you silence every chance to speak

You wanted us as wallpaper beings

As silent trophy wife furnishings

To look perfect and serve you every day

Being pretty should not be the rent we pay

To exist in the world as women

To do as we damn please with no regret

Our make-up: Armour, our clothes: defiance

A sisters’ unbreakable alliance

I say to you, throw your sticks and you stones

And you may sit upon your self-made throne

But a king is no king, built on misdeeds

And a kingdom may better thrive with a queen