Where are you?

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When you first stood up to fight for rights,

Who was it that fought by your side?

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When you first went to vote,

Who was it that gave you hope?

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When you first started going to work,

Who was it who told you not to shirk?

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When you first asked for equal pay,

Who was it that stood with you, come what may?

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When you asked us just to listen,

Who was it that made sure you were heard,

And made sure no-one cried out,

‘Shut up, you stupid bird!’?

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When first you cried out ‘Rape!’

Trying to ensure your voice hadn’t quivered,

Who was it fought for you,

And saw justice delivered?

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And now we stand here,

Opposite each other.

We ask you to just listen,

Like we would of our mother.

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But do you now stand with us?

Do you now fight with us?

Do you now believe in us?

Do you now even listen to us?

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You say you want help,

That you will hear us out.

And yet, when we stand up to speak,

You say we have nothing real to talk about.

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You cast us out, into the cold,

Decried us all as woman-haters.

I can’t help think, you all seem to be,

Nothing better than dirty traitors.

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You say we hate you, that we are sexist,

But history seems to tell a different tale.

In future years, I always think,

Your argument will seem rather frail.

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That’s the truth, one can’t deny,

And so I still wonder why,

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Where are you when we are sent to die?

Where are you when our children cry?

Where are you when our new-born bodies feel the tang?

Where are you when by the neck we hang?

Where are you when about us lies are told?

Where are you when our worlds seem to fold?

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Where are you?

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And then ask yourself,

Where were we, throughout years?

Stood with you, by your side,

Listening to your tears.

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Now its our tears that spill from our eyes,

But they’re labelled as hateful lies.

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If there’s one question I must have the answer to,

It has to be, ‘Where the hell are you?’