A tribute to the resilience of women

A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

She's a diamond in the rough
Pressured to meet realistic and unrealistic expectations of an increasingly influence society.
She's a diamond in the rough
Crushed with waves of violence and abuse
She's a diamond in the rough
Too masculine to be a single parent
She's a diamond in the rough
Trembled upon because she's a baby mama
She's a diamond in the rough
Stigmatized because of unwanted pregnancy
She's a diamond in the rough
Mistreated because she was adopted
She's a diamond in the rough
Because she's not pretty enough
She's a diamond in the rough
Ridiculed because she was raped
She's a diamond in the rough
Accused of sorcery because of a death unrelated
She's a diamond in the rough
Judged for not fitting in
She's a diamond in the rough, a treasure that's inaccessible to many
But once discovered, many crave to have and want to take from;
Those that understand its worth, takes care of it with care and tenderness
Those that do not understand its worth, are careless with it
Taking advantage of it, robbing it of its rawness, its real worth.

Look at her now?
Her innocence is taken,
Her humanity has been stripped off from me
Her sanity is tormented
Her sense of self is lost
Her voice is silenced
Her glitter is gone
Her Spirit is broken

Just because I am weak
Just because I am emotional
Just because I dress provocatively
Just because I talked back
Just because I asked too many questions
Just because.....
Just because......
Is these all that I am worth and valued for?

What is left of me now;
Are shattered pieces of what was a treasure, desired by many to be kept and taken care of
Is a reflection I see in the mirror painted with traces of scars and wounds visible and invisible
Are ghosts of trauma haunting in my dreams
Are shadows of fear of being manipulated, abused, judged, hated, discriminated, or not accepted for the way I am.

What's left of me is now a woman determined to fight for her voice, her rights and her worth as a woman and not as an object that's objectified and desired for a short period of time

She is far worth more than money, cars, sex, or a luxurious lifestyle.
Far more than a price tag that comes with her on her bride price ceremony

She is a history from the bloodline of her Ancestors
She is a mystery that took years to be found, heard, seen or be understood
She is not what the society thinks "just a woman"

She is carries the hope of her ancestors in her womb

She is fierce and bold

She is not just a Woman

She is a resilient Woman

Shivo’s Inspo Kona