sistahood

by Bernedette Muthien

i wanted to offer you

raw liver

from my side

but instead will share with you

the vegetarian delight of storing

sunlight in my soul

radiating energy

that draws moths to flame

white hot air propels a plane

through spirals of time

where deadlines is not an oxymoron

how cosmetic on few pigment

can make drum skin vibrate

straight

weave with kink

reclaim the need

to feed off others

flesh and/or energy

why you are me

and i you

distinct and one and many

this is how

why

i love you

Bernedette is a South African woman of colour who has devoted her life to strategic interventions on the issues of violence and gender equality in order to bring about a better future in South Africa, and a model for other parts of the world. She is co-founder of an indigenous scholar-activist network, the KhoeSan Women’s Circle, in addition to convenor of an international listserv of Native scholar-activists, Gender Egalitarian.