MAN KIND
(for waris dirie)
eyelids down
drenched in righteousness
spitting venom upon innocent skin
sworn
to secrecy
steeped in indignity
parading as,
cultural identity,
stapled sexuality
an egotist’s litany
controlling lives
with rusted knives
stitched virginity
with thorns of masculinity
the mouth clings to memory
as blood in dirt
an indelible history
drowned in theocracy
even diamonds slip to insignificance
as the price of purity
rises as does
the perpetual misery
be it religion or cultural
that shape the fear of the clitoral
all are evil and genocidal
eyelids open
drenched in morality
spit reason
upon decrepid ritual
.Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered brings shame upon his head. 5 But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled brings shame upon her head, for it is one and the same thing as if she had had her head shaved. 6 For if a woman does not have her head veiled, she may as well have her hair cut off. But if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should wear a veil. 7 A man, on the other hand, should not cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 nor was man created for woman, but woman for man;
1 corinthians 11
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Patrick Jones
Pic: Claire Palmer
Patrick Jones (born 1965) is a Welsh poet, playwright, and filmmaker. His work is often in collaboration with the rock band Manic Street Preachers; his brother, Nicky Wire, is their bassist.