A powerful tribute to women around the world was created by Barbadian poet, DJ Simmons. Read for yourself:

Your instinctive alarm clock is the morning air,
Rub tired eyes clear,
Open up the house to a home’s atmosphere,
Breakfast to prepare,
Got to put bobbles and bows in de lil girl hair,
Wipe de cold outta de lil boy’s eye stare,
Wunna got de bus fare?
Hubby come for ya kiss dear,
Everybody tek care today ya hear!
Woman…
Your dance enchants me,
Embraces me,
Immersed in your planned patterns completely,
Swiftly gliding your delicate toe tips skillfully,
Across the floor in your personal spotlight’s imagery,
Gracefully, reminding me,
Of what God saw he thought of the word beauty,
Unapologetically displayed and defined between and along the curved lines of your body,
Woman…
Woman…

Look at ya in ya pants suit man,
Laptop bag in ya hand,
High heels helping you to stand,
Just as tall as any man,
That works with you in that corporation,
But you hardly need any help to excel in this corporate land,
Since you have your CXC and “Uwee” documentation,
From de very beginning knowledge was your plan,
Woman…
Woman…
Woman…
Smooth as silk skin,
Eyes and styles that steer me in,
Fantasizing about swimming in that river of hair flowing,
A natural fragrance intentionally intoxicating,
Fine, full bodied figure alluring,
Smile sending my soul soaring,
The image of you is never boring,
And each time I remember you my mind has to sin,
Woman…
Woman…
Woman…
Woman
I watch you get sick,
Every morning running in de toilet,
But although ya belly get broad and stiff,
De soreness in your back making it stronger by de minute,
Nine laborious months was the trip,
And then nine laborious hours behind it,
But an internal mind-boggling power allow you to push out my future
And I fall in love again real quick
I now believe in magic!
Woman…
Woman…
Woman
Woman
Woman
I want to big up a girl like
Mother,
Daughter,
Sister,
Aunty,
Granny,
Niece,
Nanny,
Teacher,
Baby sitter,
Leader,
Mentor,
Deborah Callendar,
Wife,
Queen,
Princess,
Empress,
Abbess,
Goddess…
I want to big up a girl…like Woman!

Written for International Women’s Day 2007

Listen to DJ Simmons performing ‘A Girl Like Woman’ here.  

Happy International Women’s Day everyone!