the woman I am

one of the first poems I wrote, one of the handful I brought with me to the cafe, dusted it off and brought it back cause of something I just read

I won't be buried in choices, chained by vanity.

No fainting, feigning, fawning female here.

You'll have to look beyond my un-styled hair

And the face that isn't made up.

This is me.

I am bare feet, books and blue skies.

I am blue jeans, boots and my warm, wool sweater.

I am able and willing to learn things for myself.

I will build on the strengths of the women who came before.

I will feed armies, and carry babies, and kill spiders--

When I need to.

And I will teach my daughters to be strong.

Reviews

[Kathy Van Kurin]

'the woman I am'
Emily B,
Refreshing to simply be, to just live, breathe, feel, work...because it is necessary.
There is a time and a place for every season of one's life.
Live and learn...who do we need to please? Hard lesson I would rather not take.
The last three lines worked for me;
"I will feed armies, and carry babies, and kill spiders..
When I need to.
And I will teach my daughters to be strong."
Hard work and consistency are in building ourselves, our children and sometimes others.
Bless you,
Kathy

[Emily B]

I had forgotten this one. I miss that young poet. Her voice had so much light in it.

[heich]

i adore the woman in your poem..it could be anybody..and i wish it could be me..powerful..

[Richard Bachman]

I think you can do so much with this poem. I love the feel, but you can touch more into the woman feel. You should read Sylvia Plath to get some ideas. She was an amazing poet fighting the double standard of 1950s America.

[Sweet_pale_cacophony]

this was very heartwarming...loved you.

[Libby McKeown]

A nice, bold take on the woman's anthem. The language is forceful, and yet elegant. It has the power of the march, and the determination only a woman can have, that is, if she has to... Great job!

[Anthony M Smith Jr]

I liked your poem my friend. I too believe women have more strengths than men and are able to adapt with reality staring them in the face.
TT-TTO-NI-K
Elk

[An owl on the moon]

There is such a wondrous sense of strength the confidence here. Powerfully spoken, filled with a dynamic message for the world.

[Raef C. Boylan]

Sweet and strong. Sometimes I make coffee that way. Those last 3 lines are a great message to finish upon - Andrea Gibson-esque [which is high praise indeed from me]. A world populated by your children would be a better place.

[Dane Osborne]

A very moving and honest piece. A reflection of inner strength and also the vulernability of confession in one. Well done:)

[Freder Fredersen (aka G..]

powerful. you were an awesome poet right from the start.
cheers!

[Cheryl J. Turner]

I hope to be this type of woman, I strive for it every day.
It has made my day to read this.