“Words have always failed me
I cover my body in thick robes
For the world I live in
There are slurs at women who express their womanhood.”
– Sinenhlanhla londiwe Meyiwa Magcaba
By Sinenhlanhla londiwe Meyiwa Magcaba •
My name resides in shabby conformation
I take a few steps but then
Fail to find the strength to face them
Spank! I feel a hand on my bum
I turn to shriek but words do not come out of my mouth
Words have always failed me
I cover my body in thick robes
For the world I live in
There are slurs at women who express their womanhood
I wore a bum short and they called me isifebe
I wore thick robes and still got raped
Kanti what is a woman to do around here
I cry alone and slit my wrists while doing it
But unfortunately I do not die
But the pain is enough
To fuel my desire for vengeance
Then saturday comes and my mom asks me
To come to church with
But why would I do that
Because god has failed me
I pray in silence and hope my prayers
Are good enough to be answered
I hope these tears I cry
Will form the ocean that you will drown in
I hope you choke on my tears
And taste the saltiness of my hatred
For you have wronged me
And I hope you never enjoy another day on this earth
This poem was originally published on UzanokuKhanya and written by Sinenhlanhla londiwe Meyiwa Magcaba, a depressed sexual violence survivor and aspiring writer, who wants to change the Black community’s beliefs and norms explicitly through her writings.