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  • Hard Working Women
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Hard Working Women

Msandi Kababa

Hold on Women of great courage
You have held on so bravely and tirelessly
Hold on Women of great courage, hold on

Women have taken control of their families and their families are
now living a better life than before.
Women no longer depend on their husbands to pay for their
children’s school fees
They have put poverty to an end
Jealous down, let us give credit where due
Women of this country, you have become bread winners for your
families
Women of Swaziland, you do not ask for any favours but sought
for space to nurture, grow, and blossom in all areas of life . . .
A sister, daughter, mother, grandmother, a businesswoman, a teacher,
a nurse the list is endless.

You have boldly attacked rough situations and you have conquered
You have stood for what you believe in
Your dreams have come true, your wishes have been fulfilled
Hold on Women of great courage, hold on.

Continue women of great courage
Continue holding on and never give up
The family’s hope is in you
Hold on women of great courage, hold on


Msandi Kababa

from The World Record (Tarset: Bloodaxe, 2012)

With grateful thanks to the team at Poetry Parnassus.

Reproduced by kind permission of the author.

Tags:

African poetry bravery Courage feminism freedom poverty and social deprivation Swaziland women work

About this poem

This poem, representing Swaziland, is part of The Written World – our collaboration with BBC radio to broadcast a poem from every single nation competing in London 2012.

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