I will not be a pawn
in a parade of penis’s,
or submit because
a book of men
arrowed me to an apple.
How bitter must a woman’s
heart become that she would
wound her gender to please
the dark eye of patriarchy?
I am a woman, mother of life,
and daughter of Mother Earth.
The man who walks with me
does not brag of ribs or dominance.
He values my strength and compassion,
and sits with me at the table of wisdom
so we may support one another
in love, life, and accord.
Now is not the time for silence.
If we don’t speak for ourselves,
who do you think will?
Women and men who love us
and support our equality know
when oppression is given free reign
it won’t stop at gender.
If freedom is given only to a few,
it isn’t freedom. Tomorrow
depends on today. May we rise
to build a world where our children
won’t suffer from our failure.
©Susie Clevenger 2019
The mantra of Womanhood Rising. I love that your man sits with you at the table of wisdom. We can't afford any more numbness or silence. The cost is too high. I hope every thinking woman votes in the next election. And hope ( but it is faint hope) that it isnt rigged. Thanks for writing so powerfully to the prompt, my friend.
ReplyDelete"Tomorrow depends on today" we cannot wait for tomorrow as it is always on the verge of arriving and what that tomorrow will look like is entirely dependent on what we do now.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a powerful poem, Susie!❤️ I especially love; " I am a woman, mother of life, and daughter of Mother Earth. The man who walks with me does not brag of ribs or dominance."❤️
ReplyDeleteThe third stanza is a wonderful tribute to your man... the series "Handmaid's Tale"... it is powerful and disturbing for sure.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard for me to pick out a favorite line or stanza, this poem rocks so hard. Hell, you even shaped it beautifully! No this certainly won't stop at gender, that's sure enough. This isn't about ancient apples; it's about control. And yes, we need to be sure to act now to preserve a decent future for the ones who come after.
ReplyDelete~ when oppression is given free reign it won’t stop at gender ~ powerful poetry Ms. Susie. Powerful.
ReplyDelete'I will not be a pawn in this parade of penis's'-pretty much sets the tone for this powerful poem!
ReplyDeleteFreedom for a few is not freedom... this is so true... but they trick you into thinking that it's your freedom that they talk about, when it's really just about their greedom ... (no it's not a spelling error)
ReplyDeleteFreedom shrouded in a the self-denial and self-blindness of a privileged few is a travesty, an insult every thinking brain and feeling heart must rebel to... or we will be lost. I love--en echo--the song of your poem, and believe it all the way to my bones.
ReplyDeleteLove that first stanza, especially the apple. I thought we had come so far, but now insidious forces are trying to worm their way in.
ReplyDeleteThis is a most needful monologue to all nations who are in dire straits in terms of human rights, all inclusive.
ReplyDelete