A Woman’s Ballad

By Leila Montour

Today is her day oh dear woman who sighs
At night she bears angry hands, voices that cry
At dawn comes the calling, she wakes in disguise
Bent down in prostration, her soul comes to fly

And oh sister
The darkness is coming
And oh sister
Why aren’t you just running?
And oh sister
What is it you give?
To realize, idealize, to live

This girl had a dream of soft words from his lips
To break apart her wall bound heart with smooth gentleness
And nights of sweet pleasure, not rage ‘tween her hips
But kismet decided on foul acidness

And oh sister
A new dream is forming
And oh sister
Let rage come in storming
And oh sister
What is it you give?
To realize, idealize, to live.

Three children she gave birth and three did survive
And up from her birth-bed she paid pain no mind
For angry broad fists stood so she could not thrive
All blood and tears held in, her spirit confined

And oh sister
This burden is burning
And oh sister
Life’s wheel is soon turning
And oh sister
What is it you give?
To realize, idealize, to live.

With nowhere to go and with nowhere to hide
She spent out her days under shadow of life
But always in her eyes reflected inside
Her love for Allah cut through him like a knife

And oh sister
The whirlwind’s arriving
And oh sister
It’s not just surviving
And oh sister
What is it you give?
To realize, idealize, to live

Bent down in ruku the door opens behind
The dark claw of he who rules on the outside
And before his first strike or a word so unkind
Her flame softly ceases body cast aside

And oh sister
Your strength is astounding
And oh sister
Your life was confounding
And oh sister
What is it you give?
To realize, idealize, to live

Leila Montour writes the Sister Scorpion blog and is the mother of two baby scorpions. She may or may not be a "progressive" since she only agrees with anyone half the time on anything. Having earned a BA in English and Women's Studies, she currently does nothing but holler.