This poem is a collage put together from conversations with a many people, layered with my and other women’s stories.
The illustration is the perfect image for my poem. A true collage made with many images by my wonderful friend Jill.
One of the stories woven into the poem is from when I was talking with someone and out of the blues this young guy said: You are only a woman! I am bigger than you!
I worked hard at not reacting to him with similar rudeness but I wondered so many times about his motives.
I also wonder often about the motives of the people who raised us into thinking that we have no rights because we are girls, women, feminine.
We have a voice!
We matter just as much as anyone else matters!
And now the poem:
Don’t make waves, don’t rock the boat! You are a woman.
Be there for everyone, take care of all the problems, do what everyone expects you to do. Ignore all your needs!
You are only a woman.
Everyone else’s needs are more important than yours.
Wake up woman!
Take care of your needs!
They ARE important!
Be as kind and caring to yourself as you are to others! When you make decisions about who to serve, consider your needs.
Wake up woman!
Make waves!
Ask questions!
Clarify when unclear!
You deserve answers.
Ask for help!
Don’t do everything on your own!
Take time to relax!
Learn new things!
Teach!
Wake up woman!
Life is a very short dream.
This rolls up my childhood and young adult learnings into a few lines. So powerful. Too powerful for such bullshit. Yet. . . shit happens. Always. Gotta swoosh it all away!
Thank you for the reminder!!