Rise Young Black Woman, Rise Poem by Thobile Masondo

Don't hide your face young beauty
The shame of your youth,
The poverty you know,
The horrors you've seen,
Do not define you

Don't be afraid young African
You've drank from the calabash of knowledge
You've dodged some of the sharpest spears
You've swam in quiet lakes where the great one sleeps under
Like smoke from the rondavel, rise and escape the dark spirit

Rise young black splendor, rise
Embrace your magnificence
Embrace your distinctiveness
Embrace your femininity
Rise young black woman, this is your time