Sisterhood
linen, acrylic, thread & letters
sympathy and empathy
My little sister once asked me
“What’s the difference between
sympathy and empathy”
I thought back to last summer
Rego Tate exhib ‘22
a day of loud trains and loud colours
an expression of dictatorship of hardship
of womanhood
One final room
a room of empathy
‘Abortion series, Paula Rego, 1999’
I saw a room of women alone, in pain
but so strong
I was told I was infertile
I danced around and took liberties
I was told a lie
Two strong pink lines
Swollen breasts
Morning throw up
Phone calls to strangers
Mifepristone
Blood… a lot of blood
In my palm
I held it
No one tells you that ‘it’ will be identifiable
No one tells you that ‘it’ will be identifiable
One final room
a room of sympathy
‘Abortion series, Paula Rego, 1999’
I joined a room of women alone, in pain
but so strong
My little sister once asked me
“What’s the difference between
sympathy and empathy”
“You will learn with time, my dear, all women do”