During this year's 16 Days of Activism to End Violence against Women and Children, Independent Media continues our #DontLookAway campaign by shining a spotlight on sexual harassment.
We asked three prominent spoken word artists to compose poems for this campaign. Here is Bulelwa Basse's poem.
DON’T look away, when you see that
“entitled” hand up her polka dotted
skirt.
Don’t look away, especially when her eyes
begin to well up with shame.
Her body is not a battlefield for any ego to flex its vile victory!
Don’t look away, when the amount
reflected on her payslip is determined
by how
many times her undergarments have
scattered about the “boss’” office.
Don’t dare turn that blind eye, when
her pain is displayed on corporate vision
boards,
advertising how her sex will sell the
ultimate fortune, because in her fragile
world,
seeing and hearing no evil is not an
option.
Don’t look away, when her husband’s
only love-language is to fancy her pretty
face
as a punching-bag.
Hear her when she screams: “Love
don’t live here no more!”
Don’t look away, when flowers and
chocolate become her remuneration for
escorting
men in expensive suits, guised as
“investors” of our beloved country.
Yes: I’m talking to you, fellow South
African, quick to sell your sister’s soul
for 15
seconds of fame and fortune with a
hole in it:
Tell the school caretaker he will be
“taken care of” when justice pays him an
unexpected visit.
Remind that conflicted teacher, the
principal’s office is not where he will
have to
answer for all his transgressions,
but the concrete jungle of dungeons, designed to
remind him never to help himself to
the innocence of a child again.
Please, don’t look away ... As we can
no longer endure the haunting silence
that
comes like a thief in the night,
devours the preciousness of our mothers, sisters and
daughters
For we become no different from the jackal that wipes its fangs,
with its
tongue, after a feast on it conquered
prey.
We will NOT look away, for we know
* Join and like Be The Change Mzansi on Facebook.
* Follow the Don't Look Away campaign on IOL
* Follow us on the Facebook pages of Daily News, Cape Argus and The Star.