National Poetry Day...

[rosabud]

.....is today, apparently! So thought I would post my favourite poem which is by alta who, I believe, was a feminist poet from the USA writing in the 60s and 70s but I may be wrong. I know very little about her or her work but have always loved this poem. Has anyone else heard of her?

Euridice

all the male poets write of orpheus
as if they look back & expect
to find me walking patiently
behind them. they claim i fell into hell.
damn them, i say.
i stand in my own pain
and sing my own song.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Oh, that's excellent! Thank you.

I'd not heard of her but the poem itself rings a bell, so I think I must have read it at some point.

[Bobits]

I like writing but am not v.good, this is mine about my experiences with DV.

I Am, Always Was, Always Will Be
Even if you Don?t See.

I am honest with myself.
I trust my decisions.
I take responsibility for my choices
And my choices alone.
Always did, always will do,
Even if you don?t see.

I feel however I wish to feel.
When I?m hurt my heart is sad.
When I?m ignored, I feel alone.
When I?m raped, I feel ashamed.
When my hopes and dreams are shattered, I grieve.
Even if you pretend you don?t see.

I feel angry when this happens,
Because I forget it?s not my fault.
When I remember I can?t prevent this happening,
I don?t feel angry when it does.
And I don?t live in fear,
I never did, I never will.

When I feel unconfident, unassertive and weak,
That is okay.
I am human and I like it that way.
I forgive myself
For not always knowing the answers,
Or not knowing the right path.
Who does?
I was never perfect, I do not aspire to be.

I have strength to endure,
When someone hurts me.
To show them a better way,
Even if the do not see.

It takes courage to stand up,
To fight for what I deserve,
For respect and equal value.
Even if they don?t see.

It takes bravery to finally bow out,
To accept my efforts were in vain.
To walk the rest of the way alone.
Without the hurt, Without the fight.
Even if you do not see.

And should you wish to challenge me,
My strength and courage will not falter,
I will continue to show you,
I will still be me.

And all the while,
Balancing the practical, financial & domestic responsibility of two
And still have the energy, the spirit
To bring a smile to my child,
To lend an ear to listen
So they do not have to fight
For what they deserve.
I am worth not changing for,
I never did, I never will.

I am trusting, I am understanding, I am loving.
That is who I choose to be.
I put my heart and soul into everything.
The more I do,
The more rewarding my life will be.
To sacrifice myself, the risks are great,
No fruit will come.
But the reward of how I get there,
Is where I place value.
Always did, always will.

I am a friend, I am a sister,
I am a Madonna, I am a lover,
I am a daughter, I am a mother
Even when you do not want to see.

As a true survivor knows
I should never have felt a victim, I never will do.
I was never weak, I never will be.

And if one day, If you open your eyes,
You will be humbled by what you see.
And I will forgive you because,
That is who I choose to be.
And as always
I will be proud
Of just being me.

I see you.

[Sunnywithachanceofshowers]

One of my favourite poems, by Lucille Clifton.

wishes for sons

i wish them cramps.
i wish them a strange town
and the last tampon.
I wish them no 7-11.

i wish them one week early
and wearing a white skirt.
i wish them one week late.

later i wish them hot flashes
and clots like you
wouldn't believe. let the
flashes come when they
meet someone special.
let the clots come
when they want to.

let them think they have accepted
arrogance in the universe,
then bring them to gynecologists
not unlike themselves.