WHY MUST MY MOST CHERISHED LOVE STORY
BE ABOUT MY PAST
THE PAST I ENJOYED BEING LOVED,
CARED FOR AND ADMIRED
WHY IS IT THAT MY PAST
CANNOT BE MY PRESENT
WHO CUT MY PRESENT
TO MAKE IT END IN THIS PRESENT
THE PRESENT OF
BASHINGS
SMACKINGS
SMASHINGS AND
KICKINGS
LOOK AT
MY TWISTED JAWS
SCARRED FACE
BROKEN BONES
SHATTERED DREAMS
I AM NO MORE
THAT PERSON OF THE PAST
MY PAST HAS BEEN STOLEN
CRUSHED AND BURIED
TALK ABOUT JUSTICE
I WANT IT
TALK ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS
I DO NOT WANT
MINE TO BE VIOLATED
VIOLENCE IS NOT MY RIGHT
VICTIMISATION IS NOT MY RIGHT
LET ME HAVE MY CHOICES
DON’T SLIT MY THROAT BECAUSE OF THE SLIT ON MY SKIRT
DON’T BASH ME
IF YOU CANNOT CUSHION YOUR HEAD ON MY BOSOM
IF YOU CAN’T TALK
DON’T PUNCH THE LIFE OUT OF ME.
YOU AND I ARE MIRRORS OF OUR LIVES
EVEN CLEAR WATER SHOWS OUR MIRAGE
I DO NOT WANT TO LOOK LIKE A CRACKED MIRROR
WITH DISTORTED REFLECTIONS OF MY IMAGE
I WON’T EVEN ASK YOU TO LET GO OF MY FREEDOM
YOU ARE NOT MY KEEPER
NEITHER DO YOU HOLD THE KEY TO MY HAPPINESS
LISTEN
FOLLOW YOUR PATHS
AND DON’T TURN AROUND
TO GRAB AND TWIST MY ARM
WANTING TO TEAR MY SKIRTS
BECAUSE YOUR SEXUAL DRIVE
DRIVES YOU TO ACTS SO BEASTLY
DON’T VIOLATE ME
DON’T VIOLATE MY RIGHTS
JULY 1993
POEM WRITTEN FOR WOMEN’S NATIONAL COALITION AWARENESS PROGRAMME ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN. SPEAKMEDIA PROJECT PRODUCED THE PROGRAMME ON AUDIO TAPE.
BOITUMELO MOFOKENG
