HerStry: A Rhythm Ignored and Explored By N.Y. HAYNES

HerStry: A Rhythm Ignored and Explored

Throughout ages of oppression

and retrogression

as women we were quantum

underlings of Article One…

Made Goddesses on written pages,

without rights in the community

sexually—emotionally—legally;

high-class courtesans and housekeeping wives

with no real say about our lives…

Then came the Roman Empire

that brought rights and freedoms;

but declined did this

with the Dark Ages

Wherein we were considered subhuman…

In the Renaissance with its love energy,

there was increased economic activity.

Conversely, for the next two hundred years

not only were we tortured—maimed—raped,

but killed and burned at the stake;

simply and straightforwardly for said sorcery…

We move to the Reason Age

and became ornaments of the mantel.

When religion and Victorianism

said our desire for sex was outright pathological;

we were once again saved by capitalism,

but lead on the journey of the deemed necessary hysterectomies…

The Age of Industry gave us amazing opportunities

to own our companies,

some at the cost of our families.

Yet, we can celebrate our diversity

in keeping food bread on our tables;

then at night

cascaded in our dignity—rights—sexuality …

In this Age of Information our portals

of sisterhood—womanhood—motherhood

are challenged equally across our seas;

still

from the South to the North Pole

we can be lesbians and transgender openly…

To live our endowed collective beauty in strength

by wisdom—bloody and brassy—yet bold.

Fully feminine and free—a herstry

in our undulating births

throughout adversity

and deep-seated dichotomies

…both vital in our lives

—as rain is, to a thirsty soul.