Who has stirred sugar for me?

I thank the women

who came before me,

who, as they stirred sugar into tea

and lemon into lentil soup,

had stirrings of freedom

in their chests.

Some spoke of that,

and some served the food

silently.

But all the longing

conquered the long road,

fed the ground,

until it grew strong

for me to stand on it.

Stand my ground,

stand,

walk,

and run my ground

as the master

of my spirit.

- Ibtisam Barakat