We Will Be the Change

Silpa Suarak, an Inuktitut language expert,

one of the Indigenous women profiled by CBC 

for International Women's Day

Jennie Williams photo/ CBC

source

"A nation is not defeated until the hearts

of its women are on the ground."
A Cheyenne saying


Aho, Wise Grandmother says,

it is time for the women

to raise their voices:

in song, in council, in power, in truth,

to speak for social and 

environmental justice

for all the living.

Huff, puff, says the big bad prez,

we are going back 50 years

to the Good Old Days

and women may not speak. 

We are not, in fact,

entirely convinced you are people.

Aho, you are foolish.

We have dealt with men like you before,

and better.

We have grandchildren, 

and we need to leave them

a world that is alive.

You will find us a formidable force,

for we are half the earth,

we hold up half the sky.

In strength, we bear

your sons and daughters.

Our life's purpose is

to keep them safe.

Our hearts are strong,

and no where near to 

being on the ground.

You can drive us 

away from the river.

You can lock us up.

More of us will follow,

for water is life

and we do not respect 

the ways of death.

Your addiction to oil

is polluting sacred waters.

Your addiction to money

is melting the polar icecaps.

Your willful ignorance

is imperiling the planet.

We refuse. We resist.

Our wolfish hearts rise up.

We march for 

our grandchildren's grandchildren,

and for yours.

We are of Life, of Breath, 

of Memory, of Tomorrow.

In sisterhood, in motherhood,

we sing the Earth Mother's song.

Our hearts are weary

but our minds are wise.

We speak for the voiceless, 

for the refugees,

for the wild, for the animals,

for the air, the soil,

the ocean, the rivers, the lakes

and for all creatures.

This gives us strength.

We will not be moved,

      or silenced

         or overcome,

and our hearts are 

no where near to

being on the ground.

Happy Women's Day 2017. For Sumana's prompt at Midweek Motif: Be Bold for Change