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​Celibacy, or Death

Ari I. Stanley
content note: sexual violence
so be it.

abstinence is what you want?
you wish, you shall receive.
you will never taste a woman
broken hymen now she’s freed.

brutalize her with your seed
even while she refuses
fear you with their bitter pleads
this fetus made with bruises
faced with consequence of your greed
tough choice and yet she chooses
shunned for undoing such a deed
any way he wins, she loses.

father agrees,
with it all
scolds me for speaking up, for standing tall
close your legs and fear the fall!
of our beloved country
the patriot call.

you curse your mother so,
feast on the elk, then slaughter the doe
you feed her womb to the blistered crow
now sickened by man’s brutal blow.

he loved you more as a child
now he loves your child more

he tore the little girl out of you,
then he labeled you the whore.

So,

vanquish in your anguish
let the rage fuel your hearth
fight and bite and strike and curse
because my deer,
were women first.

cut your nails like splintered wood
let your haunting mistress linger
then, wipe the blood of womanhood
upon his red-handed fingers.

You may spit in their face and tell them:

Not until I’m free.
Not until the child I bear is worth the same as me.

​Celibato o muerte

​traducido por Kirk Lua
nota de contenido: violencia sexual
que así sea.
¿abstinencia es lo que quieres?
lo deseas. Recibirás.
nunca probarás a una mujer
el himen roto ahora está liberado.
brutalízala con tu semilla
incluso cuando ella se niega
atemorizado con sus amargas súplicas
este feto hecho con golpes
enfrentado a las consecuencias de tu avaricia
decisión difícil pero aun así ella escoge
rechazada por deshacer tal acción
de todos modos él gana, ella pierde
padre está de acuerdo,
con todo
regañame por hablar, por pararme de frente
¡cierra las piernas y teme la caída!
De nuestro amado país
el llamado patriota.
maldices a tu madre,
festín en los ancianos, después mata la cierva
le das de comer el útero al cuervo herido
ahora enfermo por el brutal golpe del hombre
él te amaba más cuando eras niña
​ahora ama más a tu hija
arrancó la niña de ti,
luego te etiquetó como una puta.
Entonces,
vence en tu angustia
deja que la rabia alimente tu hogar
pelea y muerde y golpea y maldice
porque mi venadita
fueron mujeres primero,
cortate las uñas como madera astillada
deja que tu inquietante amante se quede
luego, limpia la sangre de la feminidad
sobre sus dedos ensangrentados.
Hombres escupen en su cara y dices:
No hasta que sea libre.
No hasta que dé a luz y mi hijo sea valorado lo mismo que yo.

Ari I. Stanley has always utilized writing, especially poetry, to work through her own thoughts and emotions. Her verses are not products of formal training, but rather that of creative and emotional expression. Ari is new to the concept of having an audience to her work, and strives to push the boundaries of her writing style. She wishes to touch those who come across her poems, and wants to reach people who seek relatability and connection through prose.
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  • Home
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    • Volume 71: Dispatches from the Global Intifada
    • Volume 70: Liberation Now
    • Volume 69: The Sex Issue
    • Volume 68: Hope and Healing
    • Volume 67: De Dos Lados
    • Volume 66: The Taboo Issue
    • Volume 65: The Movement Issue
    • Back Issues on Digital Commons
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    • Volume 68
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