I’ve been reading about lots of AFAB warrior queens (having long had an obsession with female pirates), so today’s prompt is inspired by Queen Amina and others. Amina was a Hausa warrior queen in the city state of Zazzau, now north-west Nigeria. You might also like to check out Gráinne Ní Mháille, Sayyida al Hurra, Boudicca, Cheng Shi/ i Sao and Rani Lakshmibai. I was particularly struck by Amina’s first announcement as ruler; a call for her people to “resharpen their weapons.” Amina is still celebrated in song.
So the prompt is: write about what you are resharpening your weapons for – what’s your protest, anger or power centred around? Or, where in your life would you like a sharper blade – a more incisive or precise understanding? Or, write a ballad for the warrior/pirate queen of your choice, or imagine/celebrate yourself as a warrior and commemorate your own feats and battles.
My response: I wrote a protest in the form of instructions for sharpening a blade – what to sharpen it on and what to do with it once resharpened.
sl grange 