I'm Afraid To Live Poem by Ofentse Mercy Hajane

"I'm afraid to live…"
Cried a woman
"In a world seized under the arms of those who proclaims themselves my superiors.
I am afraid to live,
Where facts are conjured, and rights are given by gender.
Where the fall of blood only looks me in the eye as its kin.
Where force is the only means to get through to me."

"I'm afraid to live,
In a world where hunger and poverty turns me into currency.
Where nature's gift to me quickly turns me into a prey for predators in the dark.
When all is silent,
I alone stand sobbing, asking the heavens "Why me? ""

"I'm afraid to live…"
Cried a woman
"Where the burning vines of abusive trees strangles me every night.
Where my silence is simply traded in for my body.
Where those who tells me they need not see my endowed art, are those who thinks they could claim it whenever it suits them."

"Finally I'm afraid to live,
Where the eyes of my friends and family turn blind when I show them my scars
And where the ears of my saviors deafens at my cries."
"Is this not enough? " cried a woman.