This Lioness

There’s a lioness with golden brown skin
This lioness roars… with laughter when insulted by mortal men

This lioness has a thick brown mane
This lioness refuses to be tame
She will not be labeled categorized or named

This Lioness-
Is dangerous
Step on her toes (or rather her paws)
And she might have to bring out her claws

So you can rest-
Assured
This lioness knows best
And she cares not if you’ll be impressed

This lioness lives in me
And I in it
And I am it
And it is me

I roar!
This lioness has wings
And this lioness will soar
Whether you win or I win-
Wait who on earth is taking score?
(Or who in heaven for that matter?)

I am not restricted by any laws of religious gravity
Not interested in your sweet, sweet promises of eternity
Scared I might get an eternal cavity

I do not believe in science theory
Because science lies and tries to capture me
Science claims that mammals can’t fly
Well I’ve touched the sky several times
And the sun speaks to me

So this lioness is free because I believe not even jails cells can imprison me
And the truth I choose
is that only your brain cells can capture thee

The Price of a woman (a commercial)

Introducing new and deprived: what it means to be a black woman in Africa!
Comes with additional pressure poverty and premenstrual stress
Only in stores when having a child becomes an expense
Or when you only have a few cents
And in reality having a child becomes a liability

Being a black woman in this country
We’ll start the bidding at… nothing! in fact we’ll enforce it upon you
Sold! To the lady in the dark skin
This society is not woman-friendly
Its structure does not cater to those who are not wealthy
So forget it if your dad doesn’t drive a Bentley

Wait cut! Let’s take it from the top of the scene the last part’s not mean to be seen
Act: Globalisation, scene: make them buy into it and action!
So get yours while stocks last and believe me stocks will last because we’ll always find new ways to market it
Buy into it and you’ll get a TV set almost free that you can play loud and watch them act out how your life was meant to play out

New: this is not a sexist society
Its lies, but you can drink it
And now it’s black girls who are targeted
And stocks are not limited, only your dreams, your future and a way out
Those are prohibited

And we keep our secret behind set
In fact it’s an age old recipe from centuries back and we keep it safely hidden in mindset
So it has a lifetime guarantee

See we make you think that everything related to black is bad.
Blackmail, blacklisted, oh damn look at that nasty blackhead
But that’s not all we’ll even throw in husband to make you feel subjected you must never know you’re a queen
So call me a show-off when I say I only want to succeed in career and being to be seen
And then hope that for all women seeing really is believing
And that one day we’ll all be living
Our dreams

Maya Wegerif '09

The trick of Procrastinating

I watch the time slip through my fingers
Gather around as i pull this habit out my hat
I can make hope disapear
and create despair out of thin air
Watch me turn my future into dust
Stand in awe as i Self-destruct

Maya Wegerif 03/10

I don't want to be cute!

I am that girl that runs barefoot on the heels of her happily-ever-after
I’m going to be that person that dares to claim the sky with my laughter
I will refuse to be called mistress because I don’t have a master
and fuck it I’ll curse if that gets to the point faster.

I want to be that girl that refuses to wear heals
I want to be known as the poet that reads Braille out loud because she speaks what she feels
-and not necessarily what sells
because my expression refuses to be that candy in the flavors he chooses and picks off the shelf
Fuck it I’d rather be myself.

“No”, he says. “That’s not cute.”

Well I don’t want to be cute if it means reducing myself to bite-sized packets
Conveniently packaged for a man’s consumption
I don’t want to be cute if it means you can belittle me to “baby” and “shorty” and therefore constantly have me at your mercy
Reserved Reduced Respectful Restricted
But desirable. In the same way a man might desire a car
Obedient to his every instruction
Sits patiently waiting for him to get in and drive
The quieter the better- the ride’s smoother that way

Well, I’m going to be the woman who just doesn’t give a damn
Keep your cute if it means you can call me your girl while I must refer to you as my man

I don’t want to be cute if it means men decide what I wear and how I act
I did not make you my costume designer nor did I make you my director
Because in the movie of my life I’m playing a far bigger role than an mere actor
My existence is my art, my self-worth will play a big part
and my own goals will not be an extra

I am that poet that seeks and seeks until she finds
I for one will not be blind
I want to be accused of having voices in my head because I speak my mind

Who said I was trying to be cute?

Maya Wegerif 02/2010