I came as usual waxing cynical
Years of being invisible
Leaves no space for hope or
Trust
Over cups of tea and laughter
Or just a quiet chat
I found out so much more
About my community
Because it was the COMMUNITY
Gathering the facts
We ploughed on regardless
Of day-to-day life
We made new knowledge
In a co-produced fight
My cynicism dropped
After the first knock on the door
A tentative nervous smile
Eyes that held loneliness
And depths of despair
Yet he wanted to thank me
For showing we cared!?
Eyes now left with the glimmer of hope
Hold on to your tin of little wins
The precious steps we take
Remember them moments
It gets you through tough days
Learning to trust the process
Was the hardest thing for me
Having faith in academics
Didn’t come easily
But as we worked
I saw my own prejudgements
Was clouding the view
I fought through my entrenched beliefs
It unveiled a clearer picture
It was the day that class became glass
Giving hope a hook to hang upon
Filling in the holes lost in
Scarred Souls
WE had work to do
I knocked on doors as
the sun was setting
I hear the pitter patter of
my heavy tired footsteps
I thought of my African sisters
Doing exactly that
I felt a connection that
was bigger than the sky
I could hear you singing
We must try
Together we are women who
Light up the sky
We return to fight injustice
Just as the certainty of tides
I am proud to be part of an
Army of wise women warriors
Watch the power unfurl
As we get together
With ALL my sisters
Who already hold up
Half the world
(Tina Cribbin, 2021)