In 2013, Terry Tempest Williams wrote a book called When Women Were Birds. I haven’t read the book (I’ll get to it but the “to be read” stack is already going to kill me if it falls over while I’m sleeping) but the title cries out to me. It swirls in my head like windswept leaves taunting the freshly raked lawn. I have started so many times to write a poem using that imagery that each version now has a numbered title. They are collected in their own folder in my storage. I keep telling myself I will wrestle this poem into some shape. However, what I actually need to do, I think, is give it time and space, let it take flight. And I mean that in both the most pun-y and literal way.
I’ve been following, over the last 24 hours, an interesting and sad example of erasure of women in power. Having myself struggled both to be heard and to be given credit in past leadership roles, I feel a lot of empathy for Nandini Jammi, co-founder of Sleeping Giants. If you aren’t familiar, it’s worth looking into it just to read her article and her co-founder’s shameful “life is really hard for me” non-apology.
Anyway, for all the women and girls who have been told you are “too bossy” and that you “will get recognition, we promise” and that your male colleagues are “more relatable” and, my personal favorite, that “you’d be prettier if you wore makeup,” I’ve been working on a poem. Tell me what you think of it.
Take up space Oh, you beautiful girl Spread your arms Widen your stance Lift your chin Choose your place Raise your voice Oh, you warrior queen Call your truth Speak your song Spread your words Live your choice Dance your dance Oh, you wondrous woman Mark your time Set your beat You are those who came before You are all who take the chance
Wear a mask because you’re not a monster.
Much love.
As always, love it! ❤️
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Did you know Terry Tempest Williams will speak ‘at’ CMU Monday 10/12? https://www.cmu.edu/uls/
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I did not know that! And how the heck are you? And Scott? Are you at CMU? My gosh, has it been 10 years since the last time we bumped into each other?
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I just registered to attend. It feels oddly karmic since I also just recently submitted to a poetry festival the poem I wrote based on her book title.
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Well, it’s been at least seven years. I work in the Marketing & Communications division at CMU, have been there four years. I’ve wanted to get in touch with you and TTW forced the issue. My sister publishes an online poetry journal, http://willawawjournal.com/; peruse at your pleasure.
Scott is good. So is PeeGee, our delightful, tailless (Manx) cat. How are you? and your family?
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Thanks for the link to your sister’s journal. I will absolutely peruse. I read at least one new poem every day. It’s sort of turned into a reading challenge. HA. My kids and I are doing pretty well. Tristan’s 25th birthday is in two weeks — do you remember holding him as a wee babe?! I’m reassured that we get younger as the next generation gets older. Otherwise, I’d look in the mirror every day and see wrinkles and gray … wait.
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I remember holding Tristan on my lap. He was a sturdy boy. One Oxford Center, lower level. 25 years! Whoa. I’m glad you are writing, apparently prolifically. If I recall correctly, when you and Ken were married, you were writing a romance novel and he encouraged you to keep at it. Where is that now?
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I sure was! I suspect that old novel is on my ancient MAC hard drive. (I still have the MAC.) I stopped working on after Tristan was born — just so busy I couldn’t seem to get to it most days. Gradually, it just faded into the background and got forgotten. Ken actually took up the romance novel genre maybe 10 years ago and ghost-wrote a bunch for an author who had lost their muse. I have no idea what ever happened to those. Probably there are some drafts somewhere in his digital files.
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