LOOKS DON’T MATTER
She stoops, sags a little and has a mole.
NOR DO THOUGHTS.
Murderous fantasies overwhelm her at times.
BEHAVIOR CAN BE CHANGED.
Old patterns of obsequiousness remain.
SEX ISN’T EVERYTHING.
She was raped, at eleven, by her uncle.
IT IS THE SPIRIT
Alive, under an imperfect breast:
THAT DEFINES
The woman.
The story for all too many women, unfortunately. Well written, Nan.
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I agree that the spirit does the defining.
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Sounds like a Hero in the making. Excellent form and very effective.One of my favorites tonight.
I smiled at your juxtapositions:
“Murderous fantasies overwhelm her at times.
BEHAVIOR CAN BE CHANGED.
Old patterns of obsequiousness remain.
SEX ISN’T EVERYTHING.”
And frowned at the reality and illusion:
“She was raped, at eleven, by her uncle.
IT IS THE SPIRIT
Alive, under an imperfect breast:
THAT DEFINES
The woman.”
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I enjoyed the braided concept of this poem. Hard to do.
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I appreciaate the observation!
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Oh those “words of wisdom” that make matters worse. Pollyanna never knew.
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Wow, Nan, powerful words! Your poem made the hairs on my neck curl!
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Thanks, Diana…
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There is a special place in hell for those horrible men who rape.
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Sad…
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Nan, I’d like to actually swear in expressing my admiration for this poem. It hits hard, very hard! As it should. Thanks for posting it!
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Bless you…
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Bless you too Nan. I’ll email about suggestions for tags to your posts as per advice from La Quemada.
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I like this! It’s like a muttered sensible commentary beneath the platitudes.
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Yes, it’s kinda two separate musings. Thanks,
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🙂
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🙂
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I’m reading it two ways, and I love the truth of these lines, “Alive under an imperfect breast: The woman.”
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Simply perfect form for this poem!
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Thank you so much!
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Powerful write here, Nan. The retorts to the headlines unfold into those parts of us that we, as women, know but don’t want to share. They strengthen us after a while. Life is a series of events that either break us or fortify us on our continuing journey. You share that courage with us through this fine write.
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Many thanks for your comments and empathy.
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Powerful Nan. The contrast is stinging.
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O thanks so much, E!
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Very late to the reading….apologies!
This is such a powerful write….
The alternating lines — the voice and the comebacks – so well done. LOVE that in the CAPS it is the spirit that defines us…we can overcome and BE. It is just so very tragic that some have so much more to overcome….they are in truth, the STRONG ones.
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Oh Lillian, thank you so much!
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