BLINKERS

Who put shame in a woman’s breast,

Obscenity, in her defining curves?

Who labelled her legs immodest

and the fall of her hair sensuous?

The same, who

oiled sin into the sight of her skin

and oggled 

at the rhythm in her gait.

What yards of muslin, silk and cotton 

Can protect her

But blinkers on eyes

That wait to judge her.

And when all is said,

Thank god trees  have no vaginas

The fruits remain pure

And mountains push out no

Sons for sure.

HOMECOMING

When they brought me home,

Barbecued,

With the smell 

Of rationed kerosene in the air,

You gave me space

In the morning paper

That found its way

Later,

Around a poly cotton blouse 

From the local tailor.

The fire had covered the bruises

And you covered the rest.

You, who hardly knew me,

Spun my yarn and sang it

With proper sighs

And yawning pauses, 

The horror and bane

Tearing through 

Dramatically dilated pupils,

The wretchedness and pain

Drenching your sleeves 

From onion-stinking eyes.

But.....

Had I dared to come back alive....

I would have lived my story

While you,
You would have scribbled

A moral on my back

Graduation

Graduation

I am well taught and skilled

And with trailing years of training

It’s time to graduate.

Such joy, such pride in the

Eyes of hands that nurtured me

The day must be special and so must I

The most extravagant trousseau

The most expensive adornments

That I have ever worn
or ever again will own.
no.. not for me today a clothing smart
to keep me cool under the gown

A lifetime of parental saving flushed

And then I graduate from freedom

To womanhood,

To washing other peoples clothes and dirty dishes

To obeying and loving-

Graduated to wifehood

Contemplating...

How many times can a phoenix rise?

How long can eternity be?

What fire kills death?

A phoenix should some weary day

 try a noose perhaps..

It's a Man's War

Home they bring a corpse alive
ridden with holes, that
breathe under the widow's shroud,
A shroud stained with the hues
of volatile flags.
Your uncrying wounds
bleed in my eyes,
visions of martyrs
marauding faith, flash
beneath my blinding veils.
Baying for more you march off again
claiming boundaries unseen-
beyond my mourning walls-
in silent sands and frozen shores,
I wail with yellow death
as the blood of your freedom
your sovereignty
muddies my corridor.
And as my roof gapes aghast
at the gruff, grey ash
licking off the sky blue dregs,
I hold your honour tight
between my splintered sinking legs.

It's a man's war, a man's war,
his victory and my fall.