We Who Expire

A poem — a laugh in the face of patriarchy.

Profile of a Woman I (gold hoop) by Cusson, Marie-Elaine

Inspired by the pseudo narrative that women expire at a certain age, forcing them to ‘run against time’ and live up to patriarchal expectations.

Dedicated to women all over the world. Live free. The Creator wants you free.

We who expire Who let them define us Our will, our drive, our passion

We who expire Who let them mould us Disfiguring the Creator’s perfect contours

We who expire Who should live freely But are bound, from birth

We who expire Who are their prize and chattel Just by existence

We who expire Who are owned Into oblivion

We who expire Who are silenced Because our voice is a taboo

We who expire Who have fought to be here And who continue to fight

We who expire Who lose hope And give in to their say

We who expire Who have not known any better And so we cower

We who expire Who are called rebellious Because we refuse to be defined by another

We who expire Who live on our own terms Yet we expire, because they say so

We who expire Who have found joy Despite being expired

We who expire Who have sniffed their joke from afar And laugh in their face

We who expire Who have come to know That expiration is only the beginning

The sun shines The flowers bloom And so do we

This so called expiration, is after all A tool of control And we will no longer be bound.

We who expire Are now free We have always been free.