Our Humanity

On this day

Honouring Women

Worldwide

I consider

My tribute

Begins

By categorically

Proclaiming

A personal

Renunciation

Of misconceptions

Such as:

"Women's Issues"

"Women's problems"

That which

Overwhelmingly

Impacts women

Lie squarely 

At the feet

Of all humanity

As the gauntlet

Of challenge

My brothers

We 

Cannot absolve

Ourselves

Of responsibility

Continuing 

With damning semantics

We all 

(Men & women)

Are 

In "this" together

If ever 

There were

A compelling mandate

A call to 

(Open) arms

For a sacred

Healing covenant

I suggest 

The time is nigh

Naysayers

&

Skeptics alike

I will 

Both acknowledge

The need for

The continuance

Of my own 

Work

While circumstances

Worldwide

Affirm to me

I am not alone

Brothers

Learn to listen

Close your mouth

And open your hearts

If you're 

In this world

You have been 

Impacted

While you continue

In peer sanctioned

Ignorance

You continue 

To have 

An impact

On this day

My commitment

Is a renewed

Intention

To a deep

And thorough

Therapeutic process

That I may be

Fully & authentically

Present

To myself

And those

In my life

At this time

This season of

Death, resurrection/rebirth

I will 

Hold myself 

Responsible

For myself

My gift then

The promise

Of personal transformation

While others

Are granted the

Responsibility 

And dignity

Of their own

Journey 

R. O'Neill (March 08, 2018)