A Prayer/Pledge of Responsibility for Women
We pray (accept responsibility) for women
who stand on the corner soliciting services
who hop in the car of anyone who stops
who have never known real love.
And we pray (accept responsibility) for those
who give all they have to the crack man
who have never attended a PTA meeting
who carry worn out pictures of children in their pockets.
We pray (accept responsibility) for women
who were raped as children
whose nightmares come in the daytime
who never get a second chance.
And we pray (accept responsibility) for those
who miss home cooked meals
who don't get invited to the family reunion
who weren't spoiled by anybody.
We pray (accept responsibility) for women
who remain exposed to rape, robbery, and violence
who go to bed hungry
who live and move, but have no being.
And we pray (accept responsibility) for those
who go to places we wouldn't be caught dead in
whose pictures aren't on anybody's dresser
who live in an X-rated world.
We pray (accept responsibility) for women
who as children brought us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions
who hugged us in a hurry and forgot their lunch money
who grew up not to feel.
And we pray (accept responsibility) for those
who do not get police protection
who are ignored by society
who will not see tomorrow.
We pray (accept responsibility) for women
who will leave behind children
who can't find the way out
whose monsters are real.
**Adapted from Ina H. Hughs