Monday 8 March 2021

I was naked so I hid: A poem for International Women's Day

‘I was naked so I hid’ and You…You did not ask me why.

You did not ask me why, because You knew.

The times before when I did not hide; I was so exposed the people laughed; or did not understand or said they understood, but they did not really see me.

‘I was naked so I hid’ and You…You did not ask me why.

You did not ask me why, because You knew.

That they had written You, made You in their own image. God in pursuit, to be feared, as one who eats even the smallest humans for breakfast as a snack or because of their ‘sin’.

‘I was naked so I hid’ and You…You did not ask me why.

You did not ask me why, because You knew.

The vulnerability of lowering one’s guard when what is on the other side is unknown. It could be love, or it could be knives… and all that they would say to You in reply is, ‘am I my sister’s keeper?’

‘I was naked so I hid’ and You…You did not ask me why.

You did not ask me why, because You knew.

Instead, You asked me how? How I knew that nakedness was risky? You invited me to speak with You.

And You… You did not leave me exposed. But me You clothed. And said there is no shame in meeting me, naked, vulnerable, alone.

There is no fear in Love.