A poem written for Unmasked Open Mic Vol IV in collaboration with British Council ID: Shakespeare in a Cup and published in Sister-Hood. The last verses is a Shakespeare quote from one of his plays

They say that we’re Queens
but a queen who can never rule her own kingdom

They say that we’re Jewelry
but we’re not allowed to show how pretty and shiny we can be

They say that our bodies are Precious and that our Virginity is sacred
but we’re not allowed to even enjoy and celebrate our sacredness

They say that we’re Beautiful
but we’re never allowed to be anything that can make ourselves feel beautiful

 

There are a lot of words that can define us
But we’re not allowed to define ourselves
Our definition of womanhood are all  defined by those who are intimidated by us

Those who told us to cover
Those who told us to be obedient
Those who tortured us
Those who never learned how to treat a queen, to wear a jewelry, to be delicate with our bodies, and to let us be beautiful

And by those who are afraid that we’re not going to be able to love them
as much as we love ourselves

Because at the end, we’re Women

And Women,
will love her
that she is a woman
more worth than any man;
men, that she is the rarest of all women