SHE
SHE
by Douglas Kew
A warm, lingering stare,
pure and honest, though false witness does it bear.
Her smiling eyes have seen the worse,
she feels the curse from yesterday to faraway
down life’s enduring path.
Generations aft, and fore,
still pay the price for ancient lore,
from Adam’s rib was breathed her life,
mother, daughter, sister, wife.
Blessed by God with equal grace,
yet disqualified in every race,
though the smile upon her face betrays the trouble and the strife.
Virgins, spoiled in every war,
for every cause that men adore,
rape and torture, blame and stoning,
foundations of the earth atoning.
And once again, by his tradition,
deflowered by his superstition.
An I’ll be blown with all four winds
for he who would deny his sins,
for he who dare ignore the stare of woman’s eyes,
sweet disguise in which belies his own demise.
Scorn and derision,
his limited vision weighs heavy in her soul,
inflicts a toll upon her being.
Wife abuse, his crowning glory, ancient story, no one seeing.
Keep her down, his daily ritual,
bloodied love becomes habitual,
handed down to all his sons,
their time to rule is soon to come.
So, firm he stands on shaky ground
lest tide and table turn around,
then shall his seed be overthrown
when, to his senses man may fall,
the stoning wall will not be found on righteous ground,
nor laws abide which choose the side of he not she.
For God decides, as cells divide,
which parts to show and which to hide.
With equal pride the both are made
to share a heart not torn apart,
to walk the earth with equal worth
is how the game is played.
His wisest choice, to hear her voice,
who reads must understand,
then only shall be blessed his hand
when woman is given the rights of man.