“Invisible” Women

By Jenna K, Funkhouser, in response to the prompt, “Dispatches from the Kingdom”

“Invisible” Women gives language to the quiet strength of women the world tries not to see. Women whose hands prepare meals, whose voices hum songs of survival, whose courage endures even when sorrow is ignored.

These women are not invisible. They are wisdom-keepers, truth-tellers, and bearers of dignity in places where injustice seeks to diminish them.

As you read, may you hear their song and may it call you to see with new eyes.

“Invisible” Women

It was senseless, the way they hungered

For your resilience, and rejected your sorrow.

They gobbled up your curries and cardamom

And sang the songs they thought were yours.

But you knew them. You sang them under

Your breath as you roasted the coffee

And served it steaming and sweet. You sang

As they barred the roads and told you the line

Would be long enough to see your children

Grown, would ruin you with words. Anger,

You told your children then, makes

A good hammer, but a terrible home.

It was senseless, and still

You sang.

This poem was written by Jenna K Funkhouser from our online writing community, and is shared with permission. Check out more of her inspiring work at jennakfunkhouser.com. 

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