Stand up
when they dance
in jingle dresses
for healing
red shawls
brush earth
to remember blood
bright as red ocher
our sisters gave back
hold hands
and stand for women
who laid down
but got up again
and the ones that did not
their hearts
did not stay on the ground
forever
WOW! What a piece… I feel so uplifted after having read that. Even though the subject matter is difficult, you have managed to capture the essence of a resilient spirit in the face of oppression. Brilliant!
Soraya, thank you! Damn, this showing instead of telling when it comes to politics is DIFFICULT as hell. Glad you liked it.
It is, but you do it so well!
hahaha–If I did it my old way, it’d be something like–bad white men, bad congressmen. LOL!
Reblogged this on P.E.A.C.E. and commented:
An excellent piece of writing about resilience in the face of adversity and abject violence against women.
Soraya, thanks for the reblog.
This… is the true stand your ground.
Yes. I agree.
Showing, not telling. I must do this more. Thanks, Susan for leading the way.
Thanks, Alice. My pleasure. Can be tricky, but worth it, I think, in the end.
It is kind of like that old lit class comparison between Rod McKuen’s “Thoughts on Capital Punishment” and Gerald Stern’s “Behaving Like a Jew.” Link here for Stern’s. McKuen’s is all over the place. http://www.smith.edu/poetrycenter/poets/behavinglikeajew.html
Same message, much deeper punch.
very strong and packed with a punch. i’d assume the “red shawl” could be a reference as in sacrifice, but yet also see it as native American Culture too.
Thanks, Don! I see it as both
Powerful Susan. A clear, needed voice.
Thanks, Johnny. I hope you will check out Soraya’s call for work, too.
Reminded me of Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale”…
Oh, that’s interesting, Holly. One of my favorite novels.
I hear your voice
This is inspiration and encouragement at a higher level!
Thank you, Jodette.
I thought it a very nice piece–particularly if take out the political stuff–if you want to write a poem about boredom, don’t write a boring poem. Likewise if you want to write to move them politicalkly don’t use politics to do it–then it its simply propaganda and not art.
Point taken, KB.
Wonderful, Susan.
You know, it works for women’s history month, too.
Yes, it does. Wow!
I read your inspiration by Louise Erdich. She is a remarkable writer. I like the certainty of your last stanza. This poem stands strong.
Jane, thank you!