Not your battleground

Pubblichiamo il testo di questa bella poesia di Amira Elwakil dedicata all'amica che ha scritto una testimonianza sugli stupri avvenuti a Il Cairo pochi giorni fa, il 25 gennaio.

Not your battleground

This body is not a battleground on which you may wage your war,

nor is it a square in which a protest may be called.

This body is not an exhibit for which your feedback is sought,

or a newspaper column, supporting your interpretation of freedom of thought.

This body is not a reference for your committee of language surveyors,

and not a display of a myriad of products on a conveyor.


This body is not a tool of pleasure that you may utilise as you see fit,

nor is it an object to yearn for when rock bottom you hit.

This body is not a product or service you may buy or sell,

or a possession with which you can gel.

This body is not some muse calling you on its departing flight,

and, no, it’s main priority is not you to delight.

This body is not a mystery or enchantment,

not an embodiment of any holy goddess provoking enlightenment.

This body does not call for any labels to be invoked,

or for any liberties to be revoked.

This body is not my sad fate,

this body is not your checkmate.

This body is a mere body,

This body is my own.

It is my battleground, my square.

My goddess and dictionary.

This body is MY battleground.

Her body is HER battleground.

Her body is the revolution.