Written by: Wadia Samadi
You are birthed by one of us,
Yet, we are nothing to you but objects.
Your holy book says paradise lies under our feet.
Yet, your patriarchal practices overlay this reverence.
My face, my body provokes you,
No matter what I wear.
How weak is your manhood?
My education intimidates you.
How fragile is your masculinity?
My hair shakes your faith.
Oh! But, faith ought not be a puny thing.
What you preach in the name of religion,
Is not the religion we know.
You take my right to work,
My right to education,
My right to be on the street alone.
Your “power” revolves around oppressing me.
History is witness to our resistance;
Our valor, our strength is indisputable.
We’ve fought when no man stood with us.
We’ll fight again.
No knight, no shining armor needed.