SILAS OLA ABAYOMI

SILAS

OLA ABAYOMI

YESTERDAY WOMAN

Before now she was seen

but never heard,

because the man of yesterday,

confined her to the triangular

roles of a homemaker,

sex-object of happiness, and

biological and social duties of

nursing, nurturing, and

raising mankind’s tomorrow.

Behind the shadows of man

she had lain,

under society’s socio-cultural

blanket she was hidden;

at town or public square,

someone had to speak for her,

every time someone had to

act on her behalf.

At the mercy of a man

she lived,

rather than residing in

main house with her male

counterpart,

in courtyard she was kept.

Waiting on the instruction and

command of infallible man,

expecting the sanctimonious

call from immaculate, and

larger-than-life,

second-in-command to

Supreme Being.

Woman of yesterday,

many were her plights and

many were the rights

she was denied;

education-right to learn,

write, read, and communicate

properly,

she was denied on a

flimsy excuse of low

mental ability.

Economic empowerment,

society made it look very evil to

her,

secular job society would

never offer her.

Property she could never own,

her body she had no control upon,

inheritance-from both homes-

birthplace and matrimonial,

she could never lay claim.

Under abusive relationship

she had neither a voice nor

a choice,

even when society hurt her,

justice she could barely get.

Her portions were unjust and

harsh cultural practices,

her take home were leftovers,

or residuals,

man-made-religious-dogmas

to demand and to command

obedience from her without

question.

Yesterday woman,

male-dominated society

turned bovine and zombie,

milk of kindness flowing in

her mind,

son of Adam drank dry;

her personality,

male-controlled society

turned mechanical.

Her complementary roles

mankind turned to

force labor and slavery,

her supportive roles,

good-for-nothing-

son of Adam used

against her.

Her social and biological duties,

son of mankind over tasked,

her-willing-and-helpful-heart

humankind terribly abused.

Even though, she lived with

man in the society,

at the fringe or borderline she

was confined;

whenever she questioned

“why this,”

answers she would never get,

anytime she challenged,

she was called a rebel.

Anytime she protested,

society punished her,

at any moment she called for

a change,

a martyr she would  become.

For centuries she lived in

cocoon,

from one extremity of

the earth to another,

story was same,

but for her tenacity,

perseverance, and

determination to be free,

woman of yesterday fought

several battles.

Today she is FREE.

Free from Oppression

Released from Slavery

Equal Treatment she enjoys

with male folk,

Equality before law,

she has now.

THE WOMAN OF TODAY

Yesterday, from the background

she lay,

today, she has a loud voice

heard by everyone far and wide;

change, yes, change has pulled her

out of cocoon mankind put her,

change has redefined her roles.

Rights once denied,

she enjoys now,

freedom and liberty that

stood miles away from her

in the past,

now live in her courtyard.

Fear, subservience, and

spare wheel,

the sinking millstone of

yesterday,

benevolent change has

removed from her neck.

Education she possess now,

knowledge and power from it,

she maximizes to climb social,

economic, and political ladders.

Her roles Change keeps

modifying and redefining from

ancient triangular duties to

a dual role of a homemaker and

a builder.

Partners in political and

economic engineering

she plays without restriction or

condition,

as male-dominated-world

continues to crumble;

interestingly, gender-defined

duties are now replaced by

non-sex roles, or

gender-neutral jobs.

By means of her,

new vistas are opened

every day,

vistas to view new challenges;

challenges that create opportunities,

opportunities that keep gentrifying

human society for good.

Her place in affairs of humankind

has become an added value

to roles and duties previously

rendered only by man;

like salt-the sweetener-role

she plays and her presence

like ginger,

the preservative.

She has become a spice,

which makes life more active

and enjoyable,

like roses she beautifies other

flowers in the garden making

them radiant and aglow.

A bridge across ocean,

today’s woman has become,

yesterday’s arid or patched

land,

she has made wetland and

oasis of hope,

as she takes a commanding lead

in politics, economy, technology,

leadership, education, advocacy,

human rights, and justice.

Daily, today’s woman keeps

elevating and raising the

standards in public square,

calling to question-

an open or a blank check-

society gave to man of yesterday

without a Promissory Note.

Shall we say thanks to the

Change that brought

changes to affairs of man?

Whichever way, let humankind

say thanks to the Change that

discovered you,

let humankind say thanks to

positive changes your

partnership has fetched

homosapien.

Let the world of humankind

say: a big welcome to

the

“Woman of Today.”

SILAS OLA ABAYOMI