Cave to Current: The Feminine Fight (#TeamGirlPowa Poetry Contest Entry)

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This is my entry for @teamgirlpowa's poetry contest about Feminist Fire, which is being judged by @shawnamawna, @limabeing, @rachelhanson10, and @tessaradudley.

Artist Statement:

I was intrigued when I saw this contest post. At first, I wasn't going to enter because I don't really consider myself a feminist. I'm not big on labels, but I do believe everyone should have equal rights no matter their gender, race, ethnicity, or social status. So, I suppose in that right and the fact that I am a woman, I would fall under the feminist category. I guess the better way to say it, is that I am not a feminist activist.

We are a feminist space, even though not all of us feel like we fully own the label feminist.

Seeing that statement made me feel like I fit in a bit better, and when I read through their powerful statements, an idea began to form.

Fast forward a few days, and I still felt the pull to at least try to create something for the contest.

My entry is a bit different from others that I've read. It's not quite a rage, but rather a quick glimpse through a history of struggle, and a call at the end to show respect to those that have gone before us and to keep fighting for those that follow.

---

Cave to Current: The Feminine Fight

You club me on the head
And drag me by the hair
I'm left to start the fire
And cook the fucking bear

Then I whisper in your ear
I'm the voice that's in your head
Yet the whole empire knows
My place is in your bed

I wait in fear always
As you plunder and you rape
Hiding the kids in terror
Knowing there's no escape

As the wagon rolls west
And the natives bear down
I fear we are amiss
For leaving the safe town

And yet I had no choice
My voice is never heard
And now our death is coming
For a dream now absurd

I'm tired and I'm angry
I'm tearing at this dress
Why does us wearing pants
Cause you such distress?

As you go off to war
My fight rages at home
Suffrage is the call
The reason, a chromosome

How did we come so far
Yet back in a dress I go
Serving your martini
And going with the flow

I'm screaming in my mind
And broken in the heart
When will I be equal
I should've been from the start

My voice is being heard
And silenced all at once
For if I speak too loudly
So begin the witch hunts

Times have largely changed
We've come so far, it's true
But there is still so far to go
When trending is #MeToo

My voice will not be silenced
I cannot stop this fight
For those that went before me
I'll scream with all my might

And for those that go after
Daughters, sisters, women all
Don't settle to be held down
And know that above all

We did the best we could
To give you a fighting chance
So keep the fire burning
No matter the circumstance

Keep your head up high
And don't give in to fear
Be sure this world remembers
We're women, and we're here!

---

Thank you for reading!
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