To celebrate the extraordinary nature of women, not that the world doesn’t know it but it often needs to be reminded – this photo-poem series highlights the greatness of women. The photography is by Ray Manzana while the poem is written by Tamara Lesabe who says women are underestimated and more often than not, they’re more than what they’re assumed to be. While the world has no problem diminishing them, this poem speaks to their resilient nature and reiterates what we all know but don’t always acknowledge.
“It is about being more than the physical and woman breaking bearers beyond their looks and what people have always expected to do. Doing away with the limitations put on woman because they do not believe that woman are capable of doing a “man’s job”. It is also about exposing the beauty of the mind and creativity.” says Tamara.
Underestimate me not
I intimidate
I threaten and throw you off your tracks
Blindsided by ego and a lack of respect
You never thought I had it in me to retaliate
How could it be?
In your validated bravado, accolades and strength
Bested by quick wit and a brazen smile
Intelligence and a soul too deep
Your shallow mind could never read
The intricacies and nuances of higher knowledge
Only elevated thinking could acknowledge
There is more to me than this
There is more to me than this frame you see
This skin, this hair
These hands and this flair
Behind the beauty and smile
Is a mind worth more than your while
You hold me to a limited stature
Of basic looks and flattering conjecture
Choosing to focus merely on what is seen
What you perceive, assume and fill in
And ignore all that maketh me
But I am made of more than looks and simple thoughts
My creativity ebbs and flows like rivers into waterfalls
Psyche made of convolutions and depressions
Surface deep has never left much of an impression
Understanding of the world with skin its harshness couldn’t peel
A wild spirit, a mixture of fire and feels
Sensitivity to heal, hear me; I am a woman
Interwoven with longing, jubilance and spontaneity
Credits
Photography: Ray Manzana
Model: Palesa Williams
Poetry: Tamara Lesabe
