She is stronger than she knows.
Drawing strength from the great mother in Africa,
- endurance, silent power and invincibility.
And from all her mothers who endured over the centuries,
hosting, caring, receiving little and giving much.
It gives her backbone, dignity, grace, - and pride,
if she did but know it.
Rising from her past she does not shake it off,
rather looks to who else she can extend a hand.
She loves her country, its people and its future.
But she does not look with coloured glasses.
She sees what is, sees the impossible, and tries nevertheless.
She will suffer to provide if needed,
Giving her all for what she upholds will come.
An army of SAS or Green Berets would not withstand
a Kenyan Mama with her formidable handbag.
A look from her will put any man in his place.
No messing with anyone she’s taken under her wing
or you’ll be paying in more lives than you care to count.
Yet if she can do it with humour she will.
For laughter is always twitching close by.
She carries the rhythm of change, of hope, of courage.
She loves teamwork and the family, and not her own glory.
She stands in her own patch of diamonds yet does not see,
that all she lacks is confidence in her ability to be.
I salute you sisters and mothers, and believe in you.
As the daisy pushes through concrete,
so the Kenyan woman will win through.
 |
 |
| The
illustrations accompanying this poem are taken from a mural
in the Tasaru Girl’s
Refuge in Narok drawn by Carol Lato Gilisho, a girl rescued from female genital
circumcision and early forced marriage. |
Return
to article index for issue 3, 2004 of Feminenza Magazine |
