The Cerebral Mum

The third assignment from 30 Poems in 30 Days. Writing about issues…

“Find a news or opinion article that was published on the web this week. I recommend using Google News because it can take you just about anywhere. Look for a story that has some emotional or philosophical impact on you and use that story as the basis for your poem”

I love men.
I love the stillness of them
Their lack of agitation
When they shake off
Their workaday
Clothes

Their ability to not
Talk, to not repeat
Their thoughts
Over and over again
Their lack
Of doubt.

Men are peaceful.
But there are times
When they need
To think beyond
Their words
Beyond

Other men’s words
Times they need
To see the
Queen trapped
In the corner
Of the chessboard

While they laugh
Albeit humourlessly
At another joke
At the Queen’s
Expense
While she shrivels

Beneath the gaze
And turns to ivory.
Women talk
But men hear
Men’s voices
Like dogs

It’s all
In the pitch,
Bitch.
When they
Are not funny
Why won’t you
Snarl at them?

The news story I chose, Sexual harassment in Wadadli - Where do we draw the line? The key lines are, “Have we then as men and women facilitated an environment where people get away with such deeds that to some this has become the norm? Or is sexual harassment a cultural phenomenon that has to be defined according to the socialisation of the men and women in that environment?”

I think that men have a greater responsibility than women to speak up when other men cross the line, a greater responsibility to criticise their friends and colleagues openly. To not do so silently confirms that men think it is okay for men to objectify women.

My message to men: Your silence enables other men to continue to feel respected by the only people they respect. It is the tip of the iceberg and it is a slippery slope. If your mates are allowed to get away with this, what else do they think they can get away with?