This Society

Hedy Bruyns-Tripp

I am woman.
From the earth I draw my strength
I am a strong woman
Nine times have I been with child--
Yet only three survived.

Yet I always question --

Did I have the right to even bring them into

This society?

A society so wracked with racism:

That the Asian honey-gold to rich African chocolate

Of my children's skin

Can be the target of hate.

That my black man-child

will face the fears that only the

Black man knows in this society.

A society so ingrained with sexism:

That my strong-willed daughters

will continually batter down the

Arrogance of Man.

A society so blinded with homophobia

That my children may feel they have to protect

Their Friends ...

or even Themselves.

This society is so full of -isms.

Copyright 1995 Kaleidoscope. Write Place. Volume 6.
Contributors retain all rights to their work.
URL: http://leo.stcloud.msus.edu/kaleidoscope/volume6/page19.html