International Women's Day Centenary Celebration Poem
“Equal access to education, training, science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women”
by Ramoletane Lekhanya
It was a beautiful day somewhere in Africa
People we were out and about in search of the illusive pot-of-gold
The capitalist was basking for a tan while tourists enjoyed the waves
A tycoon cruised in his flashy car
Oblivious of the largely female populace who lined the streets
Selling this, selling that, just to make ends meet
A world of stark contrasts
What had become of God's Eden
A low wage job with intensive labour and no toilet privileges
A high bonus job with no labour and endless privileges
And as if pulled by some evil force
Eve's like seemed to gravitate towards the former
Universities had pledged fifty percent
But the girl child was hindered to take her place
A baby carrying another baby at the tender age of teen
Bright minds falling from position one to position none
Why, why, why, what's happening to our girls
My ears were almost hurt by the silence of their leaders
It was a time of scientific breakthroughs and discoveries
On television Mark, Isaac and Paul floated in a zero gravity capsule
Preparing themselves for a manned mission to Mars
Another step for man, a giant step for mankind
But alas, Maria, Samantha and Sylvia were waiting for their turn
And the system could not let them in
A world ruled by men is so full of war
Maybe in a world ruled by women war would be no more
Because they are tired of being raped, maimed and murdered
In power struggles they don't even understand
In the next election let's put women in power
But wait a minute, their names are not on the ballot paper