This is a space curated by a queer activist where she showcases different stories by the community for the community, this can be in form of poetry, short videos, spoken-word as a form of advocating for the rights of the marginalized community.
Poems by Iribagiza
This week we had correspondence from the talented Iribagiza, a committed feminist and LGBTQ activist based in Kigali, Rwanda.
The expression in her poems enters into the intimacy of her loves and her couple relationships as a woman who loves women, in Rwandan society.
Sincere and simply shared feelings. We ask for it again and again.
POEMS BY JULS
Helplessness, the feeling of pain.
Handover to me, all your sorrows,
Helplessness, the feelings of pain.
Give me also the quiet,
And also the loneliness.
Also give me the uneasiness,
Give them to me.
I will steal the moisture from the wet eyes.
I will not allow any sorrow to remain,
Handover to me all, and all your sorrows
I will not let you wet your veil too,
I will never let you cry.
Problems, the shadows of sorrow.
Give to me.. your loneliness,
Give me also the hollows,
Give me also the failures,
Also give me the wilderness give them to me.
I will spread laughter on your lips
I will spread the happiness in your path.
Julie⚓️
She’s Me, She’s You, She’s WE! BY IRIBAGIZA
You’d see her walk into a restaurant holding a little boy’s hand,
You’d see her love and be loved unconditionally by her lover
You’d see her begging her mother for forgiveness,
You’d see her being chased away by her father,
You’d see her being loved by her brother because he’s the only one that knows HER for who she is.
You’d find her locked up in her space, full of sage meditating,
You’d find her going to the 10th appointment trying to get pregnant,
You’d find her driving and singing loudly in her car after a long day at work,
You’d find her hoping that her lover still looked at her like she did in years to come.
She’s that girl who you didn’t smile back at when her world was crashing,
She’s that girl who asked you what time it was because she was running late for her appointment,
She’s that girl who still loves to play in the rain,
She’s that girl who drinks tequila while she cooks for her friends,
She’s your King and your Queen and everything in between,
You’d see her stroll in a café holding a young man’s hand
She’s Me, She’s You, She’s WE!
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