The World is a Woman
A group of women survivors of trafficking and other forms of violence have written a powerful poem to mark International Women’s Day 2023.
The women worked as a group, together with some of the staff from Ella’s, through a number of creative sessions. The sessions were facilitated by poet Shaniqua Benjamin, Poet Laureate for Croydon.
Joining Voices
The result of these sessions is a powerful poem, called ‘The World is a Woman’. Scroll down to read this poem. You can also watch it on film, read by Olabisi, one of the incredible survivors who helped write the poem. The poem is made up of seven verses, incorporating lines and ideas from all of the women involved in its creation.
‘Having the opportunity to work with the women from Ella's has been a special, powerful and emotional experience,’ says poet Shaniqua Benjamin.
‘Watching them bring their personal identities and experiences to their lines was a special gift. Hearing so much positivity in what they wanted to tell the world was powerful, as I expected something very different. Reading the poem out loud for the first time after weaving the lines together was emotional and brought tears to my eyes. These types of projects are what give my work meaning and this is a poem that will stick in my mind. Hear their voices and be silent.’
The World is a Woman
If we are all, I am
No limits
I am who I am
Hear my voice and be silent
I am a blank canvas with no edges
No paint by numbers here
Set free because of what I was given
To choose, to keep
Like the first cup of coffee
Are you ready for freedom?
I am the brightness of tomorrow’s most poor
Light for the next generation
I know the need for singing, for love, for safety
To bridge the gap from speaking
I cook for my son, without me there is no home
Are you ready for my joy?
I am the whole meal like the peace in my soul
Without me there are no lavender smells
Or patience to handle sadness
Without me the world is not how it should be
Get together with meeting of fingertips
Are you ready to embrace peace?
I am resilience like a palm tree that withstands the storm
Struggling but will strive until I reach my goal
I will scream until I’m heard
I will laugh until they listen
I say no and you respect it
Are you ready for our strength?
I am popping candy in honeycomb shards,
Unshattered
My power from my mothers
She smiled politely so I can grin
My power is mine
My choice to take it
Power is me
Power is you
Power is us
Are you ready for us?
Poem by survivors, supported by Shaniqua Benjamin. Read by Olabisi. Filmed by Ruth Towell Film and Photography with financial support from the Marsh Charitable Trust.