Nothing but a woman, how often have I heard this said.
Because I am a woman there are things I should not do
Go into a pub, have my own opinion, travel by myself,
All because I am a woman,
Am I helpless.
Saying I am nothing but a woman is someone trying to keep me down,
My glistening white tower is but a prison to me.
Man sells me protection but he is the very one he protects me against.
As a woman I wear my sadness
like a bridal gown.
Nothing but a woman, I am judged by the clothes I wear.
If I unbutton my top too far, am I asking for it,
The wife or the whore is all some men see.
It leaves woman bewildered,
We sit rocking out of fear
Nothing but a woman, it is a label of condemnation.
I am not a prefix to give men their own status.
We have become small so that man can now feel tall.
I am not that woman
I shall be inspiration
Nothing but a woman, is a derogatory phrase.
Women are more than carers, home makers, child bearers,
We are High court judges, CEO’s, songwriters, poets, mothers, makers and shakers, mechanics, electricians and plumbers.
Yes the term woman should be used
As praise.
Yes I am nothing but a woman, and I am proud of being born,
Women have risen, like a phoenix raised from the dull and darkened ashes of our heritage.
Nothing but a woman should be reclaimed,
I shall go forward,
I shall be a woman’s storm.