The Poetic Political
Fumings of a Feisty Feminist
Making waves of change, one poem at a time.
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How would it feel, To be defined by your semen? And thought less than women, Because of your penis? Prohibited from all, Ejaculation. The sins of any, Form of masturbation. Cherished solely, For your millions of sperm. Creating new life, Would only reaffirm, Your bodily skills, Of reproductivity. Yet always thought of, As completely unequally. Some states would require, You cremate your seed. Mandated ultrasounds, That you must concede Three day waiting period, To see a physician. Then a few other tests, To confirm your emission. Your body is no longer, Yours to determine. As your pastor explains, In a sinful sermon. Told that your sperm, Is religiously sacred. Belittled, demeaned, Yelled at, and hated, For choosing to want, Something bigger and better. But being incapable, And unable to let her, Define you as something, Worth so much more, Than just your average, Sperm-spewing whore. (*As I wrote the following poem, my 10 year old son was just down the hall sleeping in his bed. I didn't want him to ever hear this poem, but I realized that my daughter, and women/girls around the world are faced with similar judgement from others on a daily basis with what they do with their bodies—particularly their reproductive bodies. This poem is nothing new to them—for it happens all the time. And in writing this, I realized the horrible, absurd guilt we place on them with regards to their own bodies. They read it in the news, see it on t.v., and hear it from the politicians. They read it in books, in talk amongst their peers, they are even judged by of all those who shouldn’t—their family and friends. And those places that claim to be free from judgement and “safe places”, such as churches, are often the most judgmental with regards to women’s personal autonomy. So, I switched the roles. I put men in the place of women and tried my best to judge them for what they choose to do with their own reproductive bodies with the same vitriol that has been used against women. It is a gross disrespect to do this—either to men or women. )
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Poetry by: AsherahAlthough she was selectively edited out of the Bible two thousand years ago, she raises her voice for women today in hopes of a better tomorrow, as she makes waves of change, one poem at a time. Archives
May 2020
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