THE ENDANGERED GENDER
By Kutlwano Mokgoro
In this concrete jungle, truly, I tell you
I am being hunted. Hunted.
I have been dethroned, no longer the queen;
Queen of the jungle.
I am now, but a mere second class citizen
In my own country.
A divided country
The prey and the predators
This is a war; my kind seems to be losing
We are being poached
For the jewel in between our thighs
Seen as objects, prized possessions
Our screams fall on deaf ears
Bruises ignored, turning a blind eye
“I saw nothing” says the friend of the wolf
A wolf in disguise, he said he’d protect me
He’s the reason for my pain
Hear my screams, you cannot ignore me forever
I beseech you, see my tears
See my busted lip and bruised skin
Look down
See the red sea flowing down my thighs
Look up
Don’t you see – I am human too
Every breath I take
Every step I take
I know could be the last
They are watching, thirsting for me
I am on the verge, the edge
Of extinction.
Our Father Who art in Heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Give us this day, our daily protection
And forgive them their trespasses
For they do not know what they are doing
Deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Poetry Corner features poems and writings submitted by UP students to PDBY. Submissions are not edited and do not reflect the views or positions of PDBY or its staff members. All submissions remain the responsibility of the respective authors.