Womyn's Walkings

* Write a poem inspired by the song that was #1 on the day that you were born

"Walk like an Egyptian"- The Bangles

Womyn's Walkings

I settle my toes in the footsteps of matriarchs

And see where I myself with intention and humility

could grow greatness enough to fit in these molds

Taking a second to return on my own path

Beside these soles of divinity

My own imprints are planted and

from them I hope my young sisters in following

Will find their way

With willingness

to walk with us

Never forgetting to look back and understand

That this path of tremendous trackings

Paved the roads that lead to our tomorrows

I hope they always remember to be humbled

by what struggle has been endured

By An-sisters in past days

Who whether at the moment had only

their self- interests, rights and havings in mind,

Could not escape from

Their acts of courage readily equipping us with-

Hammering fists to break glass ceilings,

Shoulders transformed into

rungs of ladders and platforms and pedestals

Through their beings built up-we climb

and we rise and we rise.

And the fire they found in their bellies

where they made ashes of fears,

They placed into our eyes,

so we could see beyond what darkness lay ahead

They passed down softness of smiles

To kindle cryogenic hearts

that have ceased to beat to life's wonderment

that have been stoned and made steel and copper-

from wagings of war and wars for more wages

And they filled those same lips with words of precision

to break us free from patriarchal prisons

They filled our lungs past capacity

to breathe in patience and out compassion

And in our ears dangled whispered reminders that…

“We are womyn

We have faced burning on stakes,

stoning on streets,

banning from polls,

controlling our work life,

our wages,

our wombs

With imprisonment behind bars,

in dungeons

and basements

and brothels

and street walks

and our homes

and our bodies…

Objectification, sex-ploitation, exotification

We have been penetrated by

the staffs and swords and shafts of ruling men

But none of this has brought us to end

Our fight for equal standing

For what sisters and mothers and lovers and leaders

Our warriors, visionaries, teacher and healers

Have never stop demanding

For our share of life's livings

And these footsteps imprinted by dreams

Remind us to plant our feet as firmly

And continue giving

What has been given and entrusted in us

So young sisters-

regardless of where you will be headed

from this crossing of paths

I hope you never forget to look back at

this endless design of

attaining impossiblities and dreamings

And that you will add in your own time

A piece of your own power

To place in the hearts of the womyn

that will come to this same standing

Leaving her without question

that her footprints belong

Right beside these

Womyn's walkings