12/09/2023
THE LIES
The lies they told HER
"You're just a girl, you're not good for anything,
Your coming did your dad a strong thing."
The lies they told her,
"You're so ugly,
Your face is not fit for the camera,"
The lies they told her father,
"your child is a girl? You have failed."
They told her she could not amount to nothing,
They told her she had to keep her home,
That when her husband viol*tes her,
She must keep her mouth shut and keep her home,
That when her home fails, she's to blame.
They told her it's her fault she got r*ped,
That all she's made for, is to look pretty,
Dress lovely,
And bring home a man.
They told her she's not beautiful,
Except she's made up,
So, she loses her identity in the daily make up,
Concealing more,
Hoping she could hide her fear and tremor,
Because they said she is ^gly.
Her esteem is shattered,
Along with her countless dreams
Seeing their reflections in the bits and pieces of the broken mirrors,
Sitting in her room,
Her aspiration buried,
Because they lied to her that she couldn't,
And she believed.
They lied to her that when her husband di€s,
She has to sleep with his corps€,
Drink the water used to bathe his corps€,
Shave her hair off,
And even mate with the co**se.
They told her she cannot own any property,
When her husband di€s, she's the witch,
She's to be sent out of their home,
She's to accept her husband's infidelity,
She's to suck it all in,
She's to protect the pride of her promiscuous husband!
They told her a woman cannot pursue her dreams,
Heck, she's not allowed to dream though,
She was told she cannot fit in corporate matters,
That she cannot have a home and a career.
The lies they told her,
That the girl child cannot be educated,
She's to be on the farm,
She's to be taught in the kitchen,
She's to be traded with,
Given to a man who'd pay her dowry,
She's to be married off to whoever offers to marry,
She's to go to the stream to attract suitors,
While she parades herself before him.
Lies....
They told her she couldn't be a doctor,
She's not to be a lawyer,
She's not to speak when men speak,
She's not to have her own mind,
She's to be the reflection of herself,
She's to be empty...
They told her,
"Always satisfy your husband,
He's to be atop you always,
You're to call him your lord,
And thank him when he's done,
Your job is to make yourself available,
And let his children surround your table."
They told her,
" Your place is in the kitchen,
Your place is in the other room,
Your place is in the laundry room,
Your place is in the market,
Your place is never to be seen."
Look at her now,
She refused those lies,
Now she flaps her wings and flies,
Breaking records, refusing to take a bow,
She's every woman out there,
Who is worthy of being celebrated,
Celebrated because she refused to be lied to,
She is you!
©LayoSimeon
PS: I do not own copyright to the image used
