LISTEN TO GIRLS

Listen to Girls: A Reading for Women and Girls 

Giggles echo down the halls of vacant hopes.  They bring gladness to the hearts of the elderly.  The sounds of running footsteps remind others of days of freedom and of dreams so big that they explode and shatter man made constructs of shallow limitations.

Living on the streets without a home and food and water scarce, I dream of helping bring housing to all.  I dream that someday the people in power will also dream this dream.   

Cuddling their pets, hugging their parents, they have hearts of compassion filled with loving relationships that will transform old prejudices and judgments that divide humanity.  Their love is bigger than oceans that are the genesis of life. 

My friends in the refugee camp are of different religions and races.  Our friendship is more important than these differences.  We find so much in common that binds us together as sisters and brothers. 

They dance flinging out their concerns for what others see as obstacles and twirl in cosmic patterns of grandiose dreams.  Skeptics they toss aside like bowling pins bringing a strike of optimism that cuts through the most hardened of hearts. 

We have heard their voices of despair and hatred towards others.  It is difficult in our refugee camp but we find a way to come together, and in dance, to sustain our faith in a better world.  We go back to our separate places carrying our dreams and gladness of heart to influence others that we are One.     

Sitting in fields of wild flowers they blow the seeds of brilliant stars filling the universe with hope and the wish that all would be like Greta who only sees with her gift of clarity the reality of climate crises and what needs to be done. 

We watch the young children and help our parents tend to the rice paddies.  It is very hot and shade is scarce.  We see a wildflower growing and delight in the beauty.  We send out our wishes for grownups to come together in solving the climate crises we hear about in our villages.   

Attending school they gather in the lunchroom to plan their next action in stopping bullying and caring for creation.  They become the courage of Malala knowing they are blessed to be in school and think of all the girls who aren’t.   They refuse to settle for anything less than equality for all. 

I am not able to go to school.  It is forbidden because I am a girl.  I watch my brothers with their
excitement in learning and demand they teach me what they have learned.  I refuse to accept that I am not worthy of learning.  Someday I will go to school. 

Settling in the branches of trees they listen to the whispers of ancient science lessons of endurance, sharing life-giving sun and moon light, home for plants, insects, birds, fuel and wood for homes, the perfect exchange of energy of taking carbon dioxide and giving oxygen, and communicating unseen for resilience, community, renewal, rebirth.  The girls carry in their pockets the wisdom seeds for survival and eager to share if others will listen.

My mother is joining the women of our village to form a human chain around the trees in our forest to prevent the loggers from cutting them down.  Our trees give us shelter, food, medicine, help prevent flooding and so much more.  We will not let this happen.  We will join our mothers and others.  We will raise our voices and get out the urgent message for others to help. 

We open our eyes and ears to the suffering of girls and boys caught in the evil web of sex trafficking.  We write about it in our school and local newspapers.  We demand actions for finding missing girls and prosecuting their captors.  We take to the streets with our moms and dads to march for justice and safety.   

We are prisoners tortured daily by rape for the pleasures of men.  We are hidden from the outside world.  We comfort one another and help the new ones to endure and not give up hope.  We pray for release. 

Sitting cross-legged around the campfire gazing into the flames and one another’s eyes they know in their hearts they are the ones the world is waiting for.  They are the sparks of light of brilliance and purity in presence and purpose.  They give reverence to all life and to the four elements of water, air, fire and earth as equals.  They know they are part of nature, the web of life and uphold all matter because it matters. 

​Sitting cross-legged in a circle around the fire, we gaze into the flames and one another’s eyes.  We know we are leaders and have the power to bring change.  We are the sparks of light to bring about a better world.  We give reverence to all life and know all life matters.  We have dreams and answers.  Listen to us. 

​Ann Smith