Until you walk, run, fight a mile in her shoes Don1t you dare stand in front of me and tell me What a woman must do Until you have walked, run, fought a mile in her shoes Don't you dare stand in front of me and tell me
What a woman must do What a woman must do
She must Swing from chandeliers for undeserving spouses and paramours Who deny her suffrage by day, but crave and praise her womanly wiles by night Good enough to fuck but, not good enough to vote She must Go from the beauty of Africa, to the horrors of massa Go from titties dangling bare and shameless To being branded, licentious, temptress, embarrassed Go from land of yams and heat hot To land of cash crops and sellers block Go… from God names, to no name, to his names Go… from God names, to no name, to his names Now Black Now inhuman Freedom stolen, family stolen, now beholden… but still golden Field hollerin'… and Ain't I A Woman Ain't I A Woman
I can see her, me Washing dishes, clothes, and children Making love, money, dinner, and beds Always the first one off a sinking ship But last in the line to receive respect
What What a What a woman What a woman must What a woman must do What a woman must do What a woman must do Must do Must do, must do, must do, must do, must do…
She must Wipe away tears and reclaim strength After rape, abortion, lover's betrayal, child's birth, child's death, husband's abuse Tricking to buy baby shoes She must Be called a muse Which is just a synonym for use Put upon pedestals Dainty and protected And because of that disrespected Victorianized Made a paradox of famous anonymity Left to go insane with too much femininity Staring at yellow wallpaper
Her heart Open Her legs Open Warm and welcoming Waiting… for phone calls that never come Waiting… for words of appreciation that never come Waiting… for equal pay that never comes Waiting
What What a What a woman What What a What a woman must What a woman must What a woman must do What a woman must do
She must Never settle for less based upon her womaness Embrace the pronoun and power of SHE Know if nothing else that her uniqueness is blessed And a necessary component in the union between universe and people Equal to man At times above human understanding She don't have to lay down for nothing or nobody Her body in and out a wonder The wonder of SHE